Nets reportedly trade Brook Lopez, 2017 pick to Lakers for Mozgov, Russell

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(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

The Brooklyn Nets have traded Brook Lopez and the No. 27 pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for Timofey Mozgov and D’Angelo Russell, The Vertical‘s Adrian Wojnarowski reports. 

A player whose name was tossed around in no shortage of trade rumors in his Nets tenure, Lopez leaves the organization eight years after being drafted with the No. 10 pick by the New Jersey Nets. 

Prior to the news, which broke Tuesday evening, there were rumors that the Nets were looking to package the No. 22 and 27 picks to move up higher in the draft. 

While the Nets give up a pick, the team is once again banking on potential. Brooklyn picks up Russell’s contract, which still has $5.6 million dollars and $7.0 million dollars left for the next two years. Mozgov has three years left on his contract that amounts to $54 million dollars. 

During the 2016-17 season, point guard Russell averaged 15.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. On the other hand, center Mozgov averaged 7.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game in 2016-17. 

The Brooklyn Nets now enter Thursday’s NBA Draft with the No. 22 pick, two new pieces and a loss of one of the most dedicated players in the team’s history. We’ll miss you, Brook.