The Brooklyn Nets are predicted to trade for some frontcourt depth before the NBA trade deadline, according to an article published by Bleacher Report on Thursday. With the trade deadline on Feb. 9, the Nets do not have much time to make a trade that could help them come playoff time.
Throughout this season, Brooklyn has been linked to various players throughout the league that could give them depth in the frontcourt alongside or behind DPOY candidate center Nic Claxton. Claxton has been the team’s only true big, but it hasn’t derailed their season thus far as the team is still 31-20 which is good for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
However, where the frontcourt depth conversation becomes important is when there is a shake up to the lineup due to injury (like Kevin Durant has right now) or to foul trouble. For context, in the 11 games that Brooklyn has played without Durant due to his sprained right MCL, the Nets are just 4-7.
This is what Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report had to say about who Brooklyn is predicted to go after:
“The Nets seem eager to do some dealing. As they should.
This group belongs in every championship conversation, and not only for the fact that Durant gives them a puncher’s chance in any playoff series on his own. Since Jacque Vaughn took control, Brooklyn has gone 29-15 with a top-five net rating. They are really, really good.
The lack of size is concerning, though, and it needs some type of fix.
The Nets should start out aiming high. If a package of Harris, Thomas and a first-round pick could bring back John Collins, that’s a no-brainer in my book. If that same combination could pry Jakob Poeltl and Josh Richardson away from the San Antonio Spurs, that’s at least a discussion worth having.
My crystal ball doesn’t see Brooklyn getting a major deal done, though. Instead, it pictures them pairing Curry or Mills with draft consideration for someone like Naz Reid, Mason Plumlee or Mo Bamba.”
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