The Brooklyn Nets are off to a decent start with a 5-9 record through its first 14 games. However, an article from The Athletic reported that the Nets are willing to listen to offers on any of their players. It’s clear the Nets don’t see themselves as a playoff contender, and would rather gain some assets while better positioning themselves for the upcoming NBA Draft. Who could be on the move? Today, we highlighted the best potential landing spot for all of their top players:
Dorian Finney-Smith — Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are in danger of falling out of the Eastern Conference playoff race. They have the same record as the Brooklyn Nets. The Damian Lillard-Giannis Antetokounmpo pairing is working fine offensively, but this team needs more two-way players. Dorian Finney-Smith isn’t the flashiest Brooklyn Net on the trade block, but he’s a proven 3-and-D wing. He’s shooting just under 40 percent from three this season on a career-high amount of attempts (5.7). He could easily slot into Milwaukee’s starting lineup or become a solid bench piece once Khris Middleton returns.
Bojan Bogdanović — Denver Nuggets
With Nikola Jokić on the floor this year the Nuggets have a 125.8 offensive rating. The Nuggets boast a putrid 87.8 offensive rating when he’s off the floor. For comparison, last year’s Boston Celtics team set the highest offensive rating in a single season at 123.2. The ’02-’03 Denver Nuggets had the lowest single-season mark at 92.2. The Nuggets are historically great with their three-time MVP on the floor, and historically bad when he sits. With Jamal Murray struggling, they must add more offensive firepower to the rotation. Bogdanović can create his own shot and is one of the best outside shooters in the league.
Cam Johnson/Dennis Schröder — Los Angeles Lakers
A twofer heading to Hollywood. The Lakers badly need to reshape the roster around their core pieces. Gabe Vincent has been dismal since joining the Lakers, and the team likely regrets letting Dennis Schröder walk in the first place. The two guards are comparable defensively, but Schröder is the far better playmaker and can get to the basket with ease. On the wing, Cam Johnson is the perfect fit for LA’s current construction. He’s an excellent shooter and doesn’t force the Lakers to sacrifice their size advantage in the frontcourt. Lakers GM Rob Pelinka might be able to get a deal done with pieces like Vincent, D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and/or draft picks.
Ben Simmons — Memphis Grizzlies
A Simmons deal will become more likely as the season wears on. The former three-time All-Star has one year left on his current contract and could become a buyout candidate down the line. Simmons has played well for the Nets this season and teams might be motivated to strike a deal before others get involved. His scoring continues to crater and he likely will never return to being an All-NBA level player. However, there aren’t too many 6-foot-10, 28-year-old players who can defend, pass, and rebound at a high level. The Grizzlies have a ton of depth and could benefit from shrinking their rotation a bit. Plus, the dip in floor spacing would be negligible if Memphis sends out Marcus Smart (21.4 percent on threes this year) in a potential deal.
Nic Claxton — Phoenix Suns
The Suns are ready to move on from Jusuf Nurkić as their starting center. The team could use a jolt of athleticism up front. Claxton inked an extension in the offseason, but the Nets made it clear that everybody is available for trade. He’s already familiar with Kevin Durant from their days together in Brooklyn. Adding Claxton would allow Phoenix’s small backcourt to play a bit more aggressively knowing that teams have to account for the added rim protection. Additionally, Nurkić’s playmaking has been detrimental this year (1.1 APG, 2.7 TOPG). Claxton is averaging a career-high 2.5 APG (with 1.0 TOPG) and has always been a quality passer.
Cam Thomas — Golden State Warriors
We’ll end with the Net least likely to be dealt. Cam Thomas is one of the most prolific scorers in the league. There are concerns about the other facets of his game, but there’s no doubting Thomas’ ability to put the ball in the basket. He’ll be a free agent next year. 23-year-old guards who score close to 25 PPG don’t come cheap. However, if the Nets are serious about tanking, Thomas could be a potential casualty. Could the Warriors be in play? Golden State has a ton of depth but lacks a true No. 2 scoring option behind Steph Curry. We saw what the Warriors were able to accomplish with Jordan Poole as a microwave scoring option. Adding Thomas would give the Warriors an entirely new dimension and make them real threats in the Western Conference.
