3 players the Nets could bring in based on NBA trade deadline rumors
The Brooklyn Nets have been talked about heavily as the NBA trade deadline on Thursday at 3:00 PM ET is quickly approaching. After starting the season with a 13-10 record, Brooklyn is now saddled at a disappointing 20-30 amidst a host of injuries and roster concerns as the team looks to improve the roster for a potential playoff push.
The Nets have been linked to plenty of players over the course of the past month or so and while there is expected to be less movement because of the new CBA, Brooklyn is predicted to be one of the teams that will be active given their struggles. The Nets also have some tax considerations that they’re keeping in mind as they move forward as well.
Brooklyn is also in an interesting spot in terms of their rebuild as they are not good enough to contend for a title anymore, but have enough talent on the roster to be a playoff team. With that being said, here are three players that the Nets could bring in based on recent trade rumors:
Dejounte Murray
One of the main players that the Nets have been linked to throughout this entire trade deadline season is Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. Part of the reason for this is because of how willing the Hawks have been to move on from Murray to the point that they are lowering their price on him to make a deal more likely to happen.
It looks like Atlanta’s ask of two first-round picks has been lowered to one first-round pick and a good, young player or a player with an expiring contract. If the Nets are so inclined, they could offer a first-round pick and Spencer Dinwiddie in this scenario.
D'Angelo Russell
Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell has been linked to the Nets as someone who could offer some of the playmaking and shooting that Brooklyn has been missing with the uncertain health of Ben Simmons moving forward along with talk that Spencer Dinwiddie could be off the team after the deadline.
Russell has been playing well for the Lakers this season, but seems to be an expendable piece because of Los Angeles’ desperation to make a move that improves their frontcourt given some unfortunate injuries. Russell does not have the defensive upside of Dejounte Murray, but he would be an improvement at Brooklyn’s guard position.
It should be noted that a deal for Russell could be unlikely depending on the “tune-up” procedure that he had, according to Lakers head coach Darvin Ham. Russell is not on Los Angeles’ injury report for their game against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, but his status is still unknown as of the writing of this article.
Scene from Lakers practice today.
D’Angelo Russell walked out shortly after this video in sweats. Darvin Ham said DLo’s absence was “pre-planned” and he went through a “tune-up procedure” yesterday. Ham said “we’ll see” when asked about his status for tomorrow’s game. pic.twitter.com/oHk27GdQsJ
— Michael Corvo (@michaelcorvoNBA) February 7, 2024
Nassir Little
Phoenix Suns forward Nassir Little, according to multiple NBA insiders, could be sent to the Nets in a deal revolving around sending forward Royce O’Neale to the Suns. Little is a talented young player who has not played much for Phoenix this season, but is someone who looked to be on the rise during his four seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers.
While his three-point shooting leaves a lot to be desired especially for a Brooklyn team that wants to shoot a lot of threes, Little is someone who makes the team more athletic and is a formidable defender with some switching potential as well. Trading for Little would be on the smaller side of trades that the Nets can make, but as Brian Lewis of the New York Post wrote, expect Brooklyn to make small moves as opposed to big moves.
