With the Nets reportedly fielding calls and gauging interest in Brook Lopez as Thursday’s trade deadline approaches, what does Sunday’s DeMarcus Cousins deal do for Lopez’s value or Brooklyn’s odds of trading him?
It sure doesn’t help. Not one bit.
The Nets aren’t actively shopping Lopez the way the Knicks have Carmelo Anthony. The asking price was two first-round draft picks, but as soon as Cousins entered the market, that became less likely.
With motivated seller Sacramento dumping Cousins — who is a 26-year-old Olympian averaging 27.8 points and 10.6 rebounds — for the modest return of Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, and first- and second-round picks, it seems next to impossible.
New Orleans was seen as one of the prime landing spots for Lopez, with the Pelicans having discussed a deal for Evans, Galloway, Tim Frazier and a first-round pick, according to Basketball Insiders. Now New Orleans no longer is a suitor, and other big men already have moved like forward Serge Ibaka to Toronto, center Mason Plumlee to Denver and center Jusuf Nurkic to Portland.
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Granted, the Nets have the worst record in the NBA, and there always is a fear of Lopez’s surgically repaired foot giving way. The Pacers’ primary goal likely is to keep Paul George happy, so adding Lopez and creating a quartet with George, Jeff Teague and Myles Turner would be attractive. But would it be for the Nets?
After seeing the market set and his biggest asset effectively devalued, Marks easily could keep Lopez, especially since he essentially hasn’t seen him and Jeremy Lin play together with the point guard slated to return Friday in Denver. Lopez is just 28, under contract for next season and averaging 20.8 points while shooting 34.4 percent from deep.
The Cousins deal may have hurt Lopez’s value, but it might also have just helped his odds of staying in Brooklyn.
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