Woj: Nets are "strong front runners" to resign Brook Lopez and Thad Young

[SCeltic34]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--nets-frontrunners-to-re-sign-brook-lopez--thaddeus-young-205450636.html

After the Brooklyn Nets' Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young opted out of contracts to become unrestricted free agents, the Nets remain strong frontrunners to re-sign the frontcourt players, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

General manager Billy King is determined to keep Lopez and Young, and both players opted out of contracts with strong intentions of reaching agreement on new deals with Brooklyn, league sources said.

The Nets traded center Mason Plumlee to Portland on Thursday night, further solidifying the franchise’s confidence that Lopez will return on a new deal.

Lopez is likely seeking a three-year, $60 million maximum contract extension, league sources said. The Nets are planning to pay the 7-footer that full market value, although an agreement could include some financial protections for the Nets should a recurrence of Lopez’s past foot issues sideline him again, sources said.

Lopez, 27, could do a deal that includes a player option for the third year, which would allow him to re-enter free agency after the maximum contract salaries elevate with the flow of new television money.

Young, 27, who opted out of $10.2 million owed him next season, is on course for a four-year, $48 million-plus deal in the free agency marketplace and the Nets appear strongly willing to meet those parameters, league sources said.

League rules prohibit negotiations on these free-agent deals before July 1. Only then can the Nets start discussions on those deals.

Bad news for us.  But it doesn't change the fact that they still have a lot of money tied up in injury prone players and a declining Joe Johnson.

We need something good to happen this offseason, preferably soon.

[hpantazo]

That doesnt worry me at all. If anything it solidifies that they will suck for the next few years. They were awful last year and if Lopez goes down again they are a bottom 3 team.

[Who]

I thought they did a great job on draft night getting RHJ. Improved balance of team considerably. I think they stand a good chance of being back in the playoffs next year.

Injury prone players main reason for optimism at this stage.

[MBunge]

If they give those deals to Lopez and young, the Nets are going to be over the luxury tax with just those two, DWill, Joe Johnson and Jarrett Jack.

Mike

[jambr380]

If they give those deals to Lopez and young, the Nets are going to be over the luxury tax with just those two, DWill, Joe Johnson and Jarrett Jack.

Mike

Still a good enough team to prevent their picks from ever being top 10. It's almost like Billy King's main goal in life is to abort any kind of real rebuild and make sure those picks are as low as possible. I agree that injuries would be our best bet and I hate rooting for players to be injured.

[SCeltic34]

That doesnt worry me at all. If anything it solidifies that they will suck for the next few years. They were awful last year and if Lopez goes down again they are a bottom 3 team.

Salary cap experts correct me if I'm wrong, but according to HoopsHype, the Nets are currently at $60.6 million, a figure that does not include RHJ's rookie contract.  Next year's projected salary cap is ~$67 million.

The Nets started playing much better once Young was acquired from Minny and Lopez got back into rhythm.  Unless Lopez goes down long-term with another injury, it would be much better if Lopez and Young didn't resign, since Brooklyn would have only about ~$5 million to work with if they lost both.  Their roster would be diminished to a washed up DWill and Joe Johnson, Jarrett Jack, and a bunch of scrubs.  That team does not make the playoffs.  Otherwise, Brooklyn has a decent shot to make the 6-8 seed in the weak East if all goes well for them.

[D.o.s.]

That doesnt worry me at all. If anything it solidifies that they will suck for the next few years. They were awful last year and if Lopez goes down again they are a bottom 3 team.

Salary cap experts correct me if I'm wrong, but according to HoopsHype, the Nets are currently at $60.6 million, a figure that does not include RHJ's rookie contract.  Next year's projected salary cap is ~$67 million.

The Nets started playing much better once Young was acquired from Minny and Lopez got back into rhythm.  Unless Lopez goes down long-term with another injury, it would be much better if Lopez and Young didn't resign, since Brooklyn would have only about ~$5 million to work with if they lost both.  Their roster would be diminished to a washed up DWill and Joe Johnson, Jarrett Jack, and a bunch of scrubs.  That team does not make the playoffs.  Otherwise, Brooklyn has a decent shot to make the 6-8 seed in the weak East if all goes well for them.

Yeah, exactly. They're not contending for a championship, but they'll be a much worse team if they let Young and Lopez walk, since they can't reproduce their production within their means.

[SCeltic34]

I thought they did a great job on draft night getting RHJ. Improved balance of team considerably. I think they stand a good chance of being back in the playoffs next year.

Injury prone players main reason for optimism at this stage.

Yeah I hate to say it, but I liked this move by King.  I never understood the infatuation with Plumlee.  But there still remains the question mark of who is going to back up Lopez if he re-signs.

[JBcat]

I thought they did a great job on draft night getting RHJ. Improved balance of team considerably. I think they stand a good chance of being back in the playoffs next year.

Injury prone players main reason for optimism at this stage.

Im not so sure about that.  I think the East is improving.  The Heat will get Bosh back and just drafted Winslow.  The Pacers will get George back.  The Bucks will get Parker back.  You have the Raptors, Bulls, Cavs, Wizards, and Hawks who should all be better than the Nets. Then you have us who just made the playoffs and the Knicks, Magic, and Pistons may all improve (maybe not Pistons if they lose Monroe).  It won't be easy for the Nets.

[Rondo9]

I thought they did a great job on draft night getting RHJ. Improved balance of team considerably. I think they stand a good chance of being back in the playoffs next year.

Injury prone players main reason for optimism at this stage.

Im not so sure about that.  I think the East is improving.  The Heat will get Bosh back and just drafted Winslow.  The Pacers will get George back.  The Bucks will get Parker back.  You have the Raptors, Bulls, Cavs, Wizards, and Hawks who should all be better than the Nets. Then you have us who just made the playoffs and the Knicks, Magic, and Pistons may all improve (maybe not Pistons if they lose Monroe).  It won't be easy for the Nets.

Don't forget the Celtics. 

[BudweiserCeltic]

I thought they did a great job on draft night getting RHJ. Improved balance of team considerably. I think they stand a good chance of being back in the playoffs next year.

Injury prone players main reason for optimism at this stage.

Im not so sure about that.  I think the East is improving.  The Heat will get Bosh back and just drafted Winslow.  The Pacers will get George back.  The Bucks will get Parker back.  You have the Raptors, Bulls, Cavs, Wizards, and Hawks who should all be better than the Nets. Then you have us who just made the playoffs and the Knicks, Magic, and Pistons may all improve (maybe not Pistons if they lose Monroe).  It won't be easy for the Nets.

You're ignoring a few things...

Heat look on the verge of losing Wade

Pacers are going to lose West and with Hibbert opting-in, very limited in buying power. Stuckey seems on the way out.

[Rhyso]

I think the Nets will finish in the top 6 in the east unfortunately, Dwill and JJ are both in contract years so they will be balling. As long as Lopez stays healthy too of course, but knowing our luck he will 

[MJohnnyboy]

I think the Nets will finish in the top 6 in the east unfortunately, Dwill and JJ are both in contract years so they will be balling. As long as Lopez stays healthy too of course, but knowing our luck he will 

Joe Johnson's going to be balling at 35 even though his #s have been plummeting since joining the Nets? Unless JJ is the Tim Duncan of shooting guards I don't see that happening.

Knowing our "luck"? Are you implying that the Celtics have bad luck?

You mean the same bad luck that netted us Garnett and Ray that won the Celtics a championship and made them contenders for 5 years?
You mean the same bad luck where we got 4 first round picks for three guys in their mid-30s who the Nets have all gotten rid of in less than 2 years?
You mean the same bad luck that got the Celtics Brad Stevens, one of the best coaches in basketball?
You mean the same bad luck that Celtics have an ocean of picks over the next several years and have so many options to choose from? As opposed to the Nets, who have no other options if they can't re-sign Lopez or Young.

I don't know about you, but I think the Celtics have been pretty darn lucky for the past several years.

[tazzmaniac]

If they give those deals to Lopez and young, the Nets are going to be over the luxury tax with just those two, DWill, Joe Johnson and Jarrett Jack.

Mike

Still a good enough team to prevent their picks from ever being top 10. It's almost like Billy King's main goal in life is to abort any kind of real rebuild and make sure those picks are as low as possible. I agree that injuries would be our best bet and I hate rooting for players to be injured.

We have their draft picks so there is little incentive or ability for them to rebuild.  We really need Lopez and Young to go elsewhere. 

[Rhyso]

I think the Nets will finish in the top 6 in the east unfortunately, Dwill and JJ are both in contract years so they will be balling. As long as Lopez stays healthy too of course, but knowing our luck he will 

Joe Johnson's going to be balling at 35 even though his #s have been plummeting since joining the Nets? Unless JJ is the Tim Duncan of shooting guards I don't see that happening.

Knowing our "luck"? Are you implying that the Celtics have bad luck?

You mean the same bad luck that netted us Garnett and Ray that won the Celtics a championship and made them contenders for 5 years?
You mean the same bad luck where we got 4 first round picks for three guys in their mid-30s who the Nets have all gotten rid of in less than 2 years?
You mean the same bad luck that got the Celtics Brad Stevens, one of the best coaches in basketball?
You mean the same bad luck that Celtics have an ocean of picks over the next several years and have so many options to choose from? As opposed to the Nets, who have no other options if they can't re-sign Lopez or Young.

I don't know about you, but I think the Celtics have been pretty darn lucky for the past several years.

Look I wasn't meaning to be all doom and gloom, but some I feel are just unrealistic with expecting these picks to fall in the top 10 of the lottery.

Joe Johnson will be 34 this year, not 35. Also his FG% has been the same for years, although his FGA dropped since moving to brooklyn playing with Dwill and Lopez. Contract year generally means players play better, I don't see them being bad and Hollins is a good coach.

Also in regards to luck and your points, I counter with KGs knee, Perks knee, Jeff Greens heart, David West not signing, Rondos arm, Rondos ACL to name a few without going pre 2008.

We are in a great position moving foward, however I expect the 2017 pick swap and 2018 to be the best value with the 2016 being another mid first rounder (assuming they resign Lopez and Young of course!)