The Brooklyn Nets came into the season with low expectations. They have held their own early in the season. It helps that the rest of the Eastern Conference has struggled, but the Nets sit at 5-9, which is only 3.5 games out of the three-seed. However, the team knows where it is at in terms of the rebuild. They already traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks for a haul of picks and are looking to acquire more draft capital. Reports indicate the team is “open for business” in trade talks, with Cam Thomas being the most intriguing player.
Brooklyn Nets Fire Sale Incoming?
The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported the Brooklyn Nets are prepared to trade everyone they have to. The biggest prize would be Cam Thomas, who started the season hot. He is averaging career highs in all of the major categories: 24.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. His shooting percentages are impressive as well. Thomas is shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 39.2 from three. At only 23 years old, he is a fantastic piece for any contending team. He wouldn’t simply be a one-year rental but help the franchise in the long run.
Cam Thomas would also fetch the biggest haul for the Brooklyn Nets. In today’s NBA, many players go for multiple first-round picks. While the Nets would want some players in return, they would most likely look toward expensive veterans and/or cheap potential talent. The blueprint for success is there. Many other teams, like the Oklahoma City Thunder, spent years stockpiling draft picks and now are one of the favorites to win the title.
Who Else Could Be Available?
The Brooklyn Nets have plenty of other great assets besides Cam Thomas. Amick’s report also mentioned center Nic Claxton, who signed a four-year contract worth $100 million in the offseason. However, we have seen in past years that a massive contract does not mean a player cannot be moved. Bradley Beal was on a max deal but was traded to the Phoenix Suns. GMs can get creative with salaries, and the ability to bring in other teams means any trade can work. On top of Claxton, swingman Cam Johnson was also mentioned as an “intriguing” player for some teams.
If players are looking for a veteran guard Dennis Schröder is a player who many teams are familiar with. He has made his way around the league and is coming off a strong Olympic performance. He is averaging 18.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.3 steals this season for the Brooklyn Nets. If he continues his strong play, the Nets could get a good haul of picks and players. Dorian Finney-Smith is another veteran who may attract some attention. His “Three-and-D” ability makes him a valuable piece to any contender.
Teams Who Might Be Interested
There are many fringe contenders who would be interested in these players. The Los Angeles Lakers are one of them. They are very reliant on Anthony Davis and LeBron James and need a few more quality rotation pieces. The issue with the Lakers is their lack of picks. They have spent the past few years giving away all of their picks for various players. The Miami Heat are another team who seems to be in need of roster upgrades.
In the West, Minnesota has not gotten off to the start they wanted and could be looking to acquire some rotation pieces around Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert. Denver is another interesting piece, as they might try to maximize Nikola Jokic’s prime. As always, injuries may change how a team views the season, so that is something to watch in the next few months.
Final Thoughts
The Brooklyn Nets have plenty of pieces to move. While the trade deadline is still months away, teams already know where they need to improve their roster. The addition of the play-in games has made more teams buyers at the deadline. However, there are still clear sellers, and Brooklyn is one of them. Where will all these players end up once the season is over?
