Earlier today, Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops.com reported that the Brooklyn Nets and Detroit Pistons were considering a potential trade with Thaddeus Young and Brandon Jennings at the center of it. Following the loss of Jarrett Jack last month, Sheridan’s source says that the Nets are determined to replace the guard before free agency begins. However, Jennings will be an unrestricted free agent come June and losing Young for nothing would be a big hit in the Brooklyn rebuild.
A few hours later, the Pistons’ Stan Van Gundy was asked about the rumor and, as he ever so often does, responded in candor:
#Pistons SVG calls Brandon Jennings for #Nets Thaddeus Young trade report "made-up shit."
— David Mayo (@David_Mayo) February 4, 2016
As the Nets are still in the midst of finding their next General Manager, it’s hard to believe that they’d be actively shopping one of the franchise’s few tradable assets. Young, who has 22 double-doubles, good for 13th in the NBA, has been one of Brooklyn’s most consistent players this season and, without him, the Nets would likely be in a far worse position.
With the Nets in an unfavorable standing draft-wise, it’s tough to see them trading away one of the league’s most reliable forwards for an expiring point guard coming off of a massive injury without getting some younger players or a pick in return. As it stands, the Nets would have a lot to lose from a Young-Jennings swap, but what good is the month of February without a flurry of Nets trade rumors?
Sources: Brandon Jennings to Brooklyn Being Discussed — Chris Sheridan
