The Brooklyn Nets recently turned down an offer from the Denver Nuggets of Javale McGee, J.J. Hickson and a first-round pick for talented, but injury-prone center Brook Lopez.
The Nets center has battled injuries this season and is logging less minutes than he ever has before. His scoring is down five points, his field goal percentage has dropped, and there's little improvement elsewhere to make up the difference. He's increasingly looking more like a financial anchor to the Nets than a productive, title-winning piece.
Still, many NBA teams will look at Lopez and see a seven-footer with tremendous offensive skills who is simply not a style fit in his current situation. Here are three suitable offers that Brooklyn shouldn't turn down if they are proposed.
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Kendrick Perkins, Reggie Jackson, Grant Jerrett, OKC 2nd Round Pick
Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: Brook Lopez
In an improved Western Conference, OKC has tried to add firepower in the form of guard Dion Waiters, but he's displayed inconsistent shooting. Reggie Jackson has taken a step back this year, likely because his contract situation has affected his mindset on the court.
Perkins would be a big expiring contract for a Brooklyn club looking for salary relief. Jackson is a promising player who will command big bucks this offseason, but may be worth it underneath a salary cap that's set to rise dramatically.
For OKC, adding Lopez allows second-year center Steven Adams to come off the bench as a valuable energy guy, and creates a new dynamic they haven't had for a long time-a dominant post scorer. Serge Ibaka has become a stretch 4 on offense, so his game is perfectly suited to Lopez's.
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Lance Stephenson, Cody Zeller, Charlotte 2nd Round Pick
Charlotte Hornets Receive: Brook Lopez
Stephenson's production has cratered in Charlotte. His field goal percentage is down 12 points, and he's scoring less than 10 points per game. From beyond the arc-and this number is NSFW-he's connecting at a 17 percent clip. The Hornets don't seem to like his attitude either, and he's been on the block.
Why not send him back home to Brooklyn? The change of scenery may do Stephenson some good, and along with Joe Johnson the Nets would have a long-armed backcourt that could bother teams defensively.
Throwing in Cody Zeller is a nice sweetener. His per 36 numbers come out to 11.7 points and 8.5 rebounds. Mason Plumlee has been more effective for Brooklyn than Lopez, so he'd slot in as the full-time starter with Zeller as a more-than-functional rotation big.
In Charlotte, Lopez and Al Jefferson might make for the most offensively gifted frontcourt in basketball. Even opponents like the Memphis Grizzlies and Detroit Pistons wouldn't want to see this pair coming to town, and small ball teams would be punished.
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Steve Nash, Jeremy Lin, 2015 First Round Pick (HOU)
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Brook Lopez
The Nets would make this move with the knowledge that it could knock them from playoff contention. Steve Nash is out for the year, and Jeremy Lin 's shooting, minutes, scoring, and field goal percentage are all down. This is not a trade for this year.
The 2015 first-round pick is huge though. As it stands, the Hawks can swap first round picks with them this year, and then next season's No. 1 choice goes directly to Boston. Houston is going to be a playoff team, but at least that gives the Nets two Round 1 choices this season before they have none the following year.
At first glance this doesn't make sense for L.A. They're one of the worst teams in the NBA, so they shouldn't be surrendering draft choices right?
The Lakers are a different animal. Rebuilding doesn't suit them well, and they will want to send Kobe Bryant to retirement with guns blazing. Lopez is expensive, but he is productive and could help ease Bryant's scoring load next year.
Lopez also makes the Lakers more attractive to prospective free agents, who may already love L.A. and see a Bryant-Lopez pairing as something that can become a winner.
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