Brook Lopez (Photo : Getty Images)
The Brooklyn Nets may consider trading Brook Lopez by midseason as the team is slowly starting to rebuild, and rumors have it that the Indiana Pacers could be the potential landing spot for the All-Star center.
The Nets are not expected to emerge as top contenders this season even with a revamped roster led by the signing of Jeremy Lin in free agency. They were able to add in some veterans in Luis Scola and Randy Foye, but, nonetheless, still lack talents in their core roster and might as well slowly start rebuilding the franchise.
According to Zach Cronin of Elite Sports NY, with Brooklyn possibly on the verge of pressing the reset button, there is a chance the Nets may consider trading Brook Lopez.
Lopez has been the most consistent player the Nets have since drafting him back in 2008. In his eight seasons with the team, Lopez posted a career average of 18.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, while shooting an impressive 51.1 percent from the field.
There was a bit of a decline in his numbers after successfully undergoing a right foot surgery in 2014, but Lopez seems back on track in playing his best form.
At 28, Lopez could still fit in any of the Nets' potential plan to rebuild, but eight years of partnership with the franchise has yet to yield them serious hopes of winning a championship, thus opening the possibility of Lopez getting traded.
In Cronin's ideal trade scenario, the Nets should acquire a future first-round draft pick and an aging veteran in return. Among the options Cronin explored is a possible deal with the Indiana Pacers for Al Jefferson, who last played for the Charlotte Hornets before signing a deal with the Pacers this summer.
Lopez would give the Pacers a proven veteran in his prime, who could help Paul George carry some of the team's offensive load. His addition would also allow Myles Turner to play at the four spot, and reunite him with former teammate Thaddeus Young, who was traded to the Pacers this offseason.
As for the Nets, Jefferson would fill in at the center position, also reuniting him with Lin. Jefferson may not prove as effective as would be under Kenny Atkinson, but a future first-rounder to sweeten the pot would a valuable asset in the Nets' attempt to rebuild.
Any potential deal between the Nets and Pacers may not be possible until December, when every team's newly acquired players become eligible to get traded. But if the Nets see themselves at the bottom of the power rankings this season, trading Nets for future assets could be one of the logical options, which the Pacers may consider exploring.
Video courtesy: YouTube/FreeDawkins
