The Brooklyn Nets might look to trade their “Big 3” of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez, according to a report from Marc Stein of ESPN. But what might that mean for the Nets? Here’s our top trade ideas — and yours.
Top trade:
Brooklyn Nets trade Deron Williams to Sacramento Kings for Derrick Williams, Jason Thompson, Ben McLemore
The Nets want to compete, want young assets, and want fair value. This is about as close as it’ll get. All three are high first-round draft picks (Williams 2nd overall, McLemore 7th, Thompson 12th) who have struggled to live up to lofty expectations.
Sacramento starts Darren Collison at point guard, who has shot poorly to begin the season but does the little things well, and could use an upgrade like Williams, who thrived in a small market in Utah and might prefer to play alongside DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay, who are the evolved versions of current teammates Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson.
The moves the Kings made this offseason signified a team that wanted to “win now,” with the exception of letting Isaiah Thomas go, and the Kings started the year red-hot before losing DeMarcus Cousins to serious illness. It requires a leap of faith for Sacramento that Williams can be “the guy” again, and if they think he can, this move gives them a chance to take another step forward, while improving the Nets’ depth at the forward spots with three flawed but talented players to mold.
Other trades:
Deron Williams to Los Angeles Lakers for Jeremy Lin and Jordan Hill; Jeremy Lin and Steve Nash, and possibly picks:
@TheBKGame Deron for Lin and Jordan Hill
— Henry Sanchez (@HenrySanchez) December 10, 2014
@TheBKGame Dwill to Lakers for nash and lin (two expiring contracts)
— Ng Chak Kui (@davidng512) December 10, 2014
@TheBKGame DWill to the Lakers for Lin/Nash/one of their cheap young guys and a top 5 protected 1st rounder
— Chris Whalen (@Whalen95) December 10, 2014
My take: Some iteration of the Lakers & Williams popped up a few times, and it doesn’t *not* make sense.
Deron Williams, filler to Detroit Pistons for Greg Monroe, Brandon Jennings:
@ItBegins2012 @Swaggyjg @TheBKGame I'd trade Deron and some fillers for Monroe and Jennings
— Brandon Laurencot (@BLcity5) December 10, 2014
My take: The filler would have to be the opposite way — Monroe & Jennings don’t make enough to offset Williams’s $19.8 million salary. D.J. Augustin or a few minimum-salary Pistons could work. Monroe also has a no-trade clause. Monroe replicates Lopez’s skills in a lot of ways, so the Nets could view him as a replacement. But they also wouldn’t have his Bird rights in a trade and would likely be over the cap again next year, so I don’t see them acquiring him as a hired gun. Good idea, but pass.
Deron Williams to Indiana Pacers for Luis Scola, Ian Mahinmi, George Hill, Solomon Hill:
@TheBKGame williams for scola mahimi George hill and Solomon hill
— Christmas Crispy (@Zcrispy0109) December 10, 2014
My take: This is the basketball equivalent of trading a dime, two nickels, and a penny for a rusted quarter that doesn’t work in soda machines.
Deron Williams to Memphis Grizzlies for Mike Conley, Zach Randolph:
@TheBKGame D-Will & Brook for Conley & Randolph.
— Joseph Martinez (@JMartinezBKN) December 10, 2014
My take: I took Lopez out of this deal because the salaries don’t match with Lopez, either combined with Williams or by himself. Regardless: the Grizzlies aren’t trading Conley.
Deron Williams to New York Knicks for Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani:
@TheBKGame D-Will for Jose and Bargnani
— Phantom (@BKN_Phantom) December 10, 2014
My take: I like Calderon, but it bothers me how many of you seem comfortable with taking on Andrea Bargnani’s contract.
Deron Williams to Utah Jazz for Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors:
@TheBKGame Deron Williams for Ennis Kanter and Derrick Favors.
— Andy (@Badandy538_) December 10, 2014
My take: Quantum physics dictates that time travel to the past is impossible.
– Trade Ideas –
