Back in late November, I mentioned the Brooklyn Nets’ willingness to trade disgruntled forward Andrei Kirilenko. The team, of course, did make that move in a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers shortly afterwards (which, coincidentally, is an entirely different mess right now).
Brooklyn may not be stopping there and a recent report suggests the next to go could be the team’s Big Three of Brook Lopez, Deron Williams, and Joe Johnson. Bleacher Report’s (and formerly, ESPN’s) Ric Bucher reports that the three players are among others that he hears are on the trading block. ESPN actually had a similar report a few weeks ago and Bucher confirms that.
The Nets are 2nd in their Division and very much in the playoff race in the annually-down Eastern Conference. So why the move?
Mostly because that 2nd place standing in the Atlantic is wildly deceiving. The Nets are 16-21 and simply one of the better teams in a dumpster fire of a Division that includes the 76ers, Knicks, and Celtics. In addition, while they still have a good chance to reach the playoffs, they currently sit in seventh place and would be one of the final teams in if the season ended today.
Brooklyn was put together with the thought that the team could take advantage of being in a weak conference and potentially reach the NBA Finals. With teams like the Bulls, Raptors, Wizards, and Hawks, though, that just doesn’t seem possible. In fact, it sounds downright far-fetched.
It’s not just the losing, either. Williams has had a somewhat turbulent time since arriving in Brooklyn a few years ago and has often been the subject of trade speculation and fan criticism. Coach Lionel Hollins recently calling Lopez ‘lazy’ also isn’t going to help smooth over the losing, either.
The three aren’t having terrible seasons, but clearly aren’t producing as much as was expected. Lopez is playing a career-low 26.3 minutes per game in an effort to keep him healthy, and his 15.0 ppg average is the lowest of his career outside of his rookie season. Williams is continuing his steady decline, averaging only 13.9 ppg (like Lopez, the lowest of his career since his rookie year) and is shooting below 40 percent from the field. Complicating matters is the fact that he currently has a fractured rib and is out indefinitely.
Johnson leads the team in scoring with 16.5 ppg and is arguably having the best season of the bunch with numbers right around his season averages in most major categories. Still, he certainly isn’t capable of leading a team deep into the playoffs on his own.
While they aren’t all having career years, each player would certainly draw significant interest.
Lopez, for his flaws, is still a gifted true center, which is rare in today’s NBA. He has had some health issues, but is only 26 years old and has a PER of nearly 20.00. Williams has declined since joining the Nets, but at 30, teams would certainly take a chance on him being able to rejuvenate his career – that’s evidenced by the numerous trade speculation that’s surrounded his name for the past couple of seasons. Johnson is the oldest of the bunch at 33, but he leads the Nets in scoring and may have seen the least amount of deterioration to his game of the three. He isn’t posting the All-Star stats he was in Atlanta, but is still a dangerous scorer and, on a team without as many other stars demanding the ball, would be capable of doing even more. On a team with other stars, he is an ideal third option.
Potential destinations aren’t yet known and it seems as though this is mostly a feeling out process to see who might have some interest. It’s worth noting, though, that the Sacramento Kings were rumored to be pursuing Williams last month.
We’ll see if Brooklyn pulls the trigger on a deal. For now, though, the franchise at least seems to be weighing a decision to blow things up and start over.
just answer the important question-CAN THEY BREATHE?
What is it with all the teams signing these older players for such huge sums when they know the statistical probability is that they are on the declining side of their career? Then they suffer from huge buyer’s remorse and try to get someone else to take their mistakes off their hands.
Every NBA labor contract negotiation has the owners trying to curtail contracts, but yet whenever a player who has had one or two good seasons hits the market, they eyes glaze over, their checkbooks come out and they stumble towards that players agents like drooling zombies to sign the player.
“Musht shpend money.” “Musht shpend money.”
Stew and Max,
….what are you saying? None of these players are “so old” and statistically that they can’t be “roll-playing” contributors. Brooklyn never ‘courted’ a team with players that would be starters on other elite teams in the league, except DWill, IF he performed as a “pure point’ guard. So liquidating this team may be a “white flag” move; but for the players,….I believe they can be better contributors on better teams.
Who would want any of them? All 3 are overpaid, and a drag on salary cap. All 3 are ‘offense is all that matters’ players, when the recent NBA playoffs have shown that that is a good way to make a quick exit.
The best place for any of these 3 players would be on a team with an already established group of players on a playoff bound team who just are looking for a bit of extra scoring punch. problem is, those teams won’t have cap room, or anything that they want to give up in return….
clean house with the team and fire the coach
Brook Lopez is one of the biggest stiffs in the NBA, why other people cant see this is beyond my comprehension. He is like a Greek statue, immobile.