The Brooklyn Nets have found themselves in a tight spot. Entering the offseason the team has luxury tax problems and essentially no worthy draft picks. After getting all of their mid-season trade offers essentially denied outside of sending Kevin Garnett back to Minnesota, the team is left to make some choices regarding some of their bigger stars. With rebuilding the likely outcome of this offseason, what will happen to players like Deron Williams and Brook Lopez?
Williams was once the reason free agents came to Brooklyn and now head coach Lionel Hollins is making it clear he is no longer a franchise player. According to Matt Moore of CBSSports.com, the Nets will explore trade deals for Williams along with Joe Johnson, but if nothing comes together than both players will be released. Moore reports the Nets are in desperate need of both cap space and draft picks and will aim to get some relief this offseason. Brooklyn does not have a first-round draft pick until 2020 which will make most deals hard to come by and could force the Nets to eat some money and release both players.
One player on the roster Brooklyn would prefer to keep is Lopez, but rebuilding might scare him away. Lopez will be a free agent this offseason and CBSSports.com is reporting that general manager Billy King is hopeful to keep the center around. However, the only way to do that is by getting rid of Williams and Johnson who will make a combined $46 million next offseason.
"I'll say it again: We want him back. I want him back, [coach] Lionel [Hollins] wants him back, ownership wants him back," King said, via CBSSports.com. "We've all said it. There shouldn't be any more doubts about it. We're going to explore all options, as we have [previously]. Will there be a trade? There could be, but I'm not sure. But we're going to look at every option to get better."
Interest is high in Lopez. Several teams are looking at the center as the defensive center piece to their roster. The Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks could make a move on Lopez. The issue is there is no interest for Williams and Johnson. The Nets will have to completely start from scratch. The chances Lopez wants to be a part of that feel very slim.