Best options for Brooklyn Nets in a Blazers trade
By Josh Rudy
If the Brooklyn Nets decide to pull the trigger on a deal with Portland, which players on the current Blazers roster would be of most value?
By now, we’ve caught wind of the rumors swirling around Portland looking to trade one (or more) of their first-round draft picks. As of now, they hold picks 15, 20, and 26. In order to strike a deal with Portland, teams must be willing to obtain one of their “heavier” contracts.
Portland is currently in line to pay $132 million to a roster that mustered up 41 wins this past season. That’s $11 million over the luxury tax threshold. Adding three rookies would only increase the number.
There are four players believed to be “on the trade block”: Allen Crabbe, Evan Turner, Maurice Harkless, and Meyers Leonard. We know the Nets were once very interested in Allen Crabbe, but is the interest still valid? Who knows. The Nets front office does a fine job of keeping their interests and opinions “in house.”
The Nets, who currently own the third most cap space in the NBA, are one of the most logical options for Portland to “dump” one of their salaries on. The first-round pick attached to the player is ought to draw Brooklyn’s attention, and according to Sean Deveney of Sporting News, the Nets are a ‘likely partner.’
So, if Brooklyn decides to negotiate with Portland, who might they be looking to bring in? Starting from lowest value and ending with highest value, we examine each of the four possibilities for Brooklyn.