With the NBA trade deadline just two weeks away, talks are intensifying as teams push to make their final moves ahead of the season’s home stretch.
The Nets will likely be an active dealer putting on a fun few weeks of trading machine models and rumor reading for his fans. Here are three needs Brooklyn should address before the February 9 deadline.
Strengthen the forecourt
While previous calls for Brooklyn to beef up its forecourt have been relegated Nick Claxton as the culprit this time the opposite is the case. Claxton has been a contender for Defensive Player of the Year so far, but he could really use some help.
Supporting Claxton is a sophomore Day’Ron Sharpewith Ben Simmons, TJ Warren and Yuta Watanabe are the viable options among the four. That frontcourt rotation doesn’t look like it will last into the postseason, with Warren best suited for the three spots, Simmons delivering mixed performances, and Sharpe and Watanabe being effective in limited roles.
We saw many interesting names, such as San Antonio Jacob Poeltl or Minnesota Naz Reid. Both would offer some size and rebound low when Claxton is out of ballplay.
They can also go more of the route four by nibbling Bojan Bogdanovic or Jae Crowdertwo veterans with postseason experience.
natives Seth Curry or Patty Mills
There’s no pressing need to trade either of these two players, but if Brooklyn is looking for an upgrade, it makes sense to create trade packs that start here.
The nets are somewhat redundant in the small scoring guard category between these two, Kyrie Irving and Camera Thomas. Additionally, Curry will hit free agency this summer and make a key return to the James Harden Deal, Brooklyn will want some return on him.
Mills wasn’t as effective as advertised but earned enough to put him in a deal for legitimate help, especially up front where the nets are absent. A one-for-one trade with a pickaxe could net Brooklyn a Rudy Gay or someone like him who comes and makes his contribution.
Search for an All Star
Does JoeHarris, Thomas, Sharpe and a few Firsts Bring Brooklyn into the running for an elite upgrade by deadline? It’s unclear, especially since we don’t know of any All-Star Caliber players openly in the trade market.
One thing is for sure though, Brooklyn should try to pursue one when they become available. Though they’ve impressively past the nadir to become a Top East team again, the Nets aren’t clear contenders yet and could use an additional weapon.
JohnCollins is a name that Brooklyn has been associated with in the past. The forward has a bad year but is usually a 20-10 big who can spread the ground and finish anything that’s passed to him.
That’s a quality name worth bringing in if you’re the nets, provided they can meet the asking price. If it’s not Collins, they should be looking for big upgrades to make as championship windows in the NBA are closing fast.