Scotto: Nets, Pelicans talk Lopez for Evans, Galloway, Frazier, and a pick

(AP Photo/Adam Hunger) by Justis Doucet Resolution: Keep firing three-pointers, but use your length on the defensive boards to limit second-chance points The NBA has turned into a shooter's league and that’s no exception for traditional NBA big men. This year, Brook Lopez has extended his range outside the arc, connecting on 37% of his three-pointers this season -- but it's a completely new unearthed skill for the center. Looking back on his career numbers, this adaptation to his game has come out of the blue entirely. Prior to this season, Lopez had shot 31 deep bombs as a career-total; but through 28 games this season alone, he’s hit 57 of 153. So, yeah, that's a game-changer for the once-nearly-extinct big man. To this point, Lopez has often been the difference between a five point loss and a twenty point loss this season for the Nets, which is kind of what we expected. Lopez’s shooting has drastically improved his game too, as he’s able to drag opposing centers out of the paint, which opens it up for either Trevor Booker's insane offensive rebounds or for guards driving to the basket as the opposing shot rim protector must guard Lopez in the corner. Although Atkinson and Lopez have made the decision for the big man not to really play in back-to-backs, this has obviously hurt the Nets in the win column, but with an eye of long-term health, it's tough to get too upset about that. Lopez is nearing career-highs in most categories, and his scoring average of 20.5 a game is two-tenths off his career-best. In addition, he has quadrupled his assist numbers over the last two years (0.7 per game to just a hair under 3), a remarkable improvement for a veteran at the center position. With Lopez now scoring from outside, his inside numbers have improved as defenders must cover more space on the floor, seeing as, on top of the 37% three-point percentage, he’s shooting 53% from two-point range -- the third highest mark of his nine-year career. One thing that Lopez could hope to improve on for the 2017 calendar year is rebounding. You've likely read two trillion (guesstimate) articles about Lopez's poor rebounding numbers and while he's always surrounded by strong players in that category (Reggie Evans, Kris Humphries, Trevor Booker, etc), he could stand to help out a bit more there. Of course, as he finds himself out by the three-point line more and more, those numbers aren't likely to rise -- but, hey, Lopez can't do it all by himself, so he mostly gets a pass there. — (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

The Brooklyn Nets have been discussing a trade that would send Brook Lopez to the New Orleans Pelicans for Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, Tim Frazier, and a protected 2018, a source has told Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders.

As always, the hold-up appears to be the Nets’ resistance to dealing the franchise’s near-leader in every statistical category for anything less than two first rounders, as ESPN’s Marc Stein noted yesterday. While many have predicted that the high price point would be tough to meet, the Nets still have ten days before the NBA trade deadline. The Pelicans, getting increasingly more desperate to pair a star with Anthony Davis in the frontcourt, have offered the Nets their best deal yet — but it’s likely not enough.

Evans, the prized player in such a trade, would be a free agent this summer. From Scotto:

Evans, 27, will become an unrestricted free agent after the season. Evans averaged 16.8 points, 5.2 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game through his first six seasons. However, the former 2009 fourth overall pick has struggled with injuries dating back to last season. Evans played in only 25 games last season. This season, Evans has averaged a career-low 17.6 minutes per game off the bench this season.

The NBA trade deadline is on February 23rd at 3 PM EST.

Brook Lopez Headlines Pelicans and Nets Trade Talks — Basketball Insiders