Back in December, the Nets discussed a trade with the Sacramento Kings that would’ve sent point guard Deron Williams back to the Western Conference. But talks stalled when the Kings demanded Mason Plumlee: Plumlee was in the midst of a career-best month as fellow Nets center Brook Lopez sat out with a back injury, and the Nets balked at the idea of trading away their only healthy center at the time.
Five months later, a re-invigorated Brook Lopez and Plumlee’s declining minutes mean that the second-year Duke center might be back on the block again. Per ESPN’s Marc Stein:
And I'm hearing teams have indeed begun to inquire about availability of Mason Plumlee based on belief Nets willing to move young big man
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) May 27, 2015
Plumlee has some value as a rim-runner, and his rebounding improved from his rookie to sophomore season in a big way (8.7 rebounds per 36 minutes to 10.6). It remains to be seen what his value is on the open market, but he could be included as a sweetener in a trade to send off one of Brooklyn’s bigger contracts, like Deron Williams (owed $43 million over the next two years) or Joe Johnson (who has an expiring contract worth $24.9 million).
Though he held onto a starting spot as late as March 6th, Plumlee’s minutes began dwindling in February, and he only played 49 minutes over six playoff games. He finished the season with averages of 8.7 points and 6.2 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per game, and was the only Nets player to play in all 82 games.
