Here are three Nets players who should be untouchable in trade talks.
If we’ve learned one thing during Sean Marks’ tenure as general manager of the Brooklyn Nets, it’s that he isn’t reluctant to wheel and deal on the trade front. However, the 44-year-old exec doesn’t choreograph trades just for the sake of bringing in new faces. Like any competent GM, he looks to exploit the deficiencies of other franchises to replenish the roster and bolster the foundation of his own organization.
When fully healthy, the Nets are clearly a team with championship aspirations, as they flaunt the ideal structure of superstar veterans mixed with a budding young core.
Speaking of which, Brooklyn would be insane to consider breaking up its assortment of youthful talent. It’s difficult to label any player as “untouchable,” but here are three Nets that come closest to fulfilling that designation.
3. Spencer Dinwiddie
Spencer Dinwiddie is on our idealized Nets roster moving forward.
A mysterious shoulder injury to Kyrie Irving unfortunately prevented us from witnessing a sizable sample in terms of how the six-time All-Star meshed with Spencer Dinwiddie, but we fully believe the two guards will ultimately make it work. After all, the latter isn’t a pass-first guard and doesn’t need to bring the ball up the court to be effective.
The Nets will be better off with Irving orchestrating the offense and Dinwiddie playing off him as the two guard. The former Colorado star was frustrating at times this season, but that’s primarily because injuries forced him to carry a ridiculous burden. With the ball in his hands as much as it was, he was bound to disappoint on some possessions.
Still, his career-high 20.6 points per game proved that he can be a reliable third or fourth option behind Irving, Kevin Durant and Caris LeVert. At 27 years old and just entering his prime, Dinwiddie should absolutely be in Brooklyn’s long-term plans.
2. Jarrett Allen
Jarrett Allen should not be thrown into some random Nets trade.
You would think that the arrival of DeAndre Jordan, who signed as a free agent alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving last summer, would stunt the development of Jarrett Allen, right? Well, all the 22-year-old big man did was prove all of those skeptics wrong.
In just 25.7 minutes per game, Allen came just short of averaging a double-double, as he logged 10.6 points and 9.5 rebounds before the season was suspended.
The Texas Longhorn product’s ability to protect the rim — he’s posted 1.4 blocks for his career — and finish in the pick and roll is simply invaluable in today’s NBA. Allen was adored by former head coach Kenny Atkinson, so he’ll have to work to get in the good graces of whomever the Nets hire next, but that shouldn’t be a problem.
The former No. 22 overall pick oozes potential, and could easily enter the elite conversation if he works on staying out of foul trouble and is given legitimate starter’s minutes, meaning Brooklyn should make him untouchable in trade talks.
1. Caris LeVert
Caris LeVert is far too good for the Nets to trade.
There was a load of concern regarding Caris LeVert and how he would recover following a gruesome foot dislocation suffered in November of 2018. Prior to the injury, the former No. 20 overall pick was in the midst of a breakout season, averaging 18.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game on 47.5% shooting.
Luckily for the Nets, LeVert picked up right where he left off before the injury. In 39 contests (25 starts), the Michigan product averaged 17.7 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 41.4% from the floor and 38.1% on threes. His 4.1 assists per game also prove that he’s an excellent distributor for his size.
At 6-foot-6 with a 6’10” wingspan, LeVert gives Brooklyn a ton of length as a reliable scorer and multi-positional defender. It doesn’t take a basketball savant to know that he’s the Nets’ most valuable young asset. Therefore, general manager Sean Marks should immediately hang up the phone on teams inquiring about his availability.