The Brooklyn Nets concluded their three-game road trip with a 107-105 win against the New Orleans Pelicans. This road trip had been challenging for the Nets, who lost in overtime to the Boston Celtics and blew a 12-point lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers. With such tough losses, key players are rumored to be traded by the Nets before the February deadline.
Nets Rumored To Trade Key Players
The Nets currently have a 5-6 record. Their aggressive play and near wins indicate that they are not planning to meet the expectations of not being contenders, as predicted at the beginning of the season.
After their loss to the Cavaliers, Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez said:
“We cannot get to the point where we’re in position to get the win but then we make mistakes that [are] controllable.”
Nets Future
The future for the Nets looks promising with numerous draft picks in the first and second rounds of the upcoming 2025 draft and beyond. However, the current roster might change due to recent trade rumors.
Cam Thomas, one of the best guards on the team and the leading scorer, is crucial for the Nets’ future. He is one of the main players the team is expected to build around. Unfortunately, before the season, the Nets were unable to reach an agreement with Thomas and his camp. Talks with Thomas will be monitored closely.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, rival teams are expecting the Nets to make Dennis Schröder, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Bojan Bogdanović available for trades before the deadline in February.
“Dennis Schröder, Dorian Finney-Smith, Bojan Bogdanović are all quality vets possessing sub-$20 million salaries and frequently mentioned by rival teams as players they expect to be moved between now and the Feb. 6 trade deadline,” Stein reported.
Schröder’s Trade Impact
Schröder makes the most sense for any team in the NBA to trade for right now. In his 12th year in the league and second with Brooklyn, he is averaging 19.5 points, 6.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Teams that could trade for him include the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, and Indiana Pacers.
Trade offers could come as early as November and December. Teams in both the Eastern and Western Conferences this season want to make a deep playoff run. They need depth on their bench to allow their starters to rest when needed.
Nets Aim To Trade and Free Up Cap Space
Rumors suggest the Nets aim to trade and continue building for the future. This news follows guard Ben Simmons losing his starting job, and he already has low trade value due to his history of injuries and missed games.
Nets general manager Sean Marks faces important decisions in the upcoming weeks. He needs to decide whether to compete for the playoffs with the current roster or to sell and rebuild.
For now, the Nets are gearing up to face the Boston Celtics once more on Wednesday night. A win at the Barclays Center against the reigning champions would be huge for the Nets.
