Trade with the Nets to save our pick

[loco_91]

After the Nets' brutal start, it looked safe to assume they'd be the 3rd worst team in the league. But now, it doesn't look so clear. The Pelicans have failed to right their ship, the TWolves have been awful, and the Suns lost their best player, Eric Bledsoe, to a season-ending knee surgery. While also losing to the Sixers at home. There are seven teams within three games of Bkn, and any of them could decide to throw in the towel for a chance at Ben Simmons.

It looks to me like there's a big dropoff in this draft after the top 3 (Simmons, Ingram, Bender). If we want Bkn to end up with a bottom-3 record, rather than the 5th or 6th worst record, we should make a trade that causes them to shed some of their better players. If we have to overpay a bit, so be it: think of it as the cost of moving up from 6th to 3rd in the draft.

I don't know exactly what the trade should look like, but the two targets should be Brook Lopez and Thad Young. Would love to hear ideas from you guys, but here's one of mine:

C's get: Lopez
Nets get: Lee, Jerebko, Young, Our own '16 1st and 2nd rounders, Bos '18 (top-10 protected)

It's is a slight overpay for Lopez, who carries some injury risk and doesn't play great defense. However:
-Both 1st round picks have the potential to be mid-20's
-Lopez's 3yr, $20m/yr contract is going to look cheap when the cap goes up. At 27, he likely won't decline much over the course of his contract.
-Lopez would earn a starting role on this team, give us some much-needed scoring, and upgrade Lee massively.
-For the Nets, losing Lopez will be devastating, as they will have to play mediocre-or-worse players in his stead.
-However, the Nets get desperately-needed assets so that they can eventually dig their way out of this hole, and they also save $40m.

[jambr380]

Out of principle alone, I don't see the Nets trading us Lopez without getting at least one of their picks back (this year for sure). That's not to say they won't trade Lopez, but I can't imagine them giving us the satisfaction of them getting even worse while getting their best player and an improving pick.

[loco_91]

Out of principle alone, I don't see the Nets trading us Lopez without getting at least one of their picks back (this year for sure). That's not to say they won't trade Lopez, but I can't imagine them giving us the satisfaction of them getting even worse while getting their best player and an improving pick.

You're probably right. Maybe we could facilitate a trade where they send Lopez to a playoff team - any candidates come to mind?

[max215]

Their pick doesn't really need saving.

[slamtheking]

Their pick doesn't really need saving.

I agree.  they'll stink without any further assistance.  the pick will be top 5.  bank on it.   

[loco_91]

Their pick doesn't really need saving.

I agree.  they'll stink without any further assistance.  the pick will be top 5.  bank on it.

I think there's a big difference between picking 3rd and 5th in this draft. And I'm not banking on picking top 5: could easily see the Suns, Pelicans and Twolves all being worse than the Nets. Then the Kings and Blazers loom as potential tankers, too.

Don't get me wrong, the Nets are pitiful. But they have no incentive to tank, whereas all these other teams do.

[Smitty77]

Their pick doesn't really need saving.

I agree.  they'll stink without any further assistance.  the pick will be top 5.  bank on it.

I think there's a big difference between picking 3rd and 5th in this draft. And I'm not banking on picking top 5: could easily see the Suns, Pelicans and Twolves all being worse than the Nets. Then the Kings and Blazers loom as potential tankers, too.

Don't get me wrong, the Nets are pitiful. But they have no incentive to tank, whereas all these other teams do.

I honestly think that the NBA should investigate the Lakers for such blatant tanking.  How many games have they lost by 40 or more??  I honestly think they should have a lottery pick taken away, as should Philly!!!!

Smitty77

[Ogaju]

Don't get greedy because Christmas came early with the Brooklyn pick. The Brooklyn pick was not supposed to be great this year. Why help them get better in the future when we still have their 17 and 18 first round picks.

Leave the Nets alone, they will pay for taking KG and PP. They will pay now or later, but they will pay.

[KG Living Legend]

 Let's put it simply. The Nets are all done dealing with Trader Danny.

[Rondo9]

You know that the Nets are 9-22 on pace for 24 wins right?

[Celtics18]

So, Brooklyn is going to trade their best player to the team that owns their draft pick so we can get better and they can get worse?

I don't think even the Nets are that stupid.

[2short]

After the Nets' brutal start, it looked safe to assume they'd be the 3rd worst team in the league. But now, it doesn't look so clear. The Pelicans have failed to right their ship, the TWolves have been awful, and the Suns lost their best player, Eric Bledsoe, to a season-ending knee surgery. While also losing to the Sixers at home. There are seven teams within three games of Bkn, and any of them could decide to throw in the towel for a chance at Ben Simmons.

It looks to me like there's a big dropoff in this draft after the top 3 (Simmons, Ingram, Bender). If we want Bkn to end up with a bottom-3 record, rather than the 5th or 6th worst record, we should make a trade that causes them to shed some of their better players. If we have to overpay a bit, so be it: think of it as the cost of moving up from 6th to 3rd in the draft.

I don't know exactly what the trade should look like, but the two targets should be Brook Lopez and Thad Young. Would love to hear ideas from you guys, but here's one of mine:

C's get: Lopez
Nets get: Lee, Jerebko, Young, Our own '16 1st and 2nd rounders, Bos '18 (top-10 protected)

It's is a slight overpay for Lopez, who carries some injury risk and doesn't play great defense. However:
-Both 1st round picks have the potential to be mid-20's
-Lopez's 3yr, $20m/yr contract is going to look cheap when the cap goes up. At 27, he likely won't decline much over the course of his contract.
-Lopez would earn a starting role on this team, give us some much-needed scoring, and upgrade Lee massively.
-For the Nets, losing Lopez will be devastating, as they will have to play mediocre-or-worse players in his stead.
-However, the Nets get desperately-needed assets so that they can eventually dig their way out of this hole, and they also save $40m.

Well what I get from that is we should put together a package for Anthony Davis.  All in.

[TheFlex]

"Save" the Brooklyn pick? Aren't they still the 3rd worst team despite people saying for some time now that it's only a matter of time before they get better?

[MJohnnyboy]

"Save" the Brooklyn pick? Aren't they still the 3rd worst team despite people saying for some time now that it's only a matter of time before they get better?

I don't think their mindset is the Nets will get better as much as it that their competitors (like Denver or Phoenix) are going to get worse by going all in on the tank and hence, the Nets, who aren't trying to tank, will get more wins.

But yeah I'm with you. Just because teams are more likely than not going to get worse does not mean that pick's going out of the top 5. More importantly, just because the odds might decrease for the Nets pick doesn't mean a. The Celtics will lose the NBA lottery and b. The Celtics won't select someone good in the draft. Last time I checked, no one here is psychic. I say let's wait and see first before we jump ship.

[trickybilly]

Lopez will go down. Trust the process. Lee, JJ, and Young would arguable make them stronger too by the way...