The Brooklyn Nets have been shopping Brook Lopez and the Houston Rockets could be an option along with the Miami Heat at the trade deadline and this comes as the Nets are interested in Kendrick Perkins and Thaddeus Young as they try and re-shape their team halfway through the season.
The Rockets have emerged as a potential contender for Lopez, as Adrian Wojnarowski reports they could step in after a three team deal between the Thunder, Nets and Hornets died out. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Nets have been active over the past week in trade talks regarding Lopez, including with Charlotte and Oklahoma City in a three-team deal involving Lance Stephenson and a straight up deal with the Thunder about Kendrick Perkins.
The first deal was the three team trade that would have brought Stephenson to the Nets, but the three teams could not agree on terms and get the salary cap numbers right. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Rockets have also called in to the Nets about Lopez and they remain an option along with the Miami Heat for a deal with Lopez. Yahoo Sports reported that the Nets and Oklahoma City Thunder picked up talks after the Hornets deal failed, with Lopez moving for Kendrick Perkins and that could be picked up on again closer to the deadline.
The Nets have been shopping Lopez along with Deron Williams and Joe Johnson this season and while they have not pulled off any deals yet, they could start trading closer to the deadline. The Rockets have been looking to make additions through the season, adding Josh Smith and also checking in on a trade for Rajon Rondo before he was moved to the Mavericks. James Harden has been having a fantastic season and has been playing at an MVP level and he comes in after a performance with 31 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds against the Thunder.
Marc Stein at ESPN reported that the Nets are looking to trade Lopez and then possibly ship whoever they get in that deal for Thaddeus Young with the Timberwolves. Pro Basketball Talk picked up on Stein's report and if the Nets pull off the trade with the Thunder for Perkins with Lopez, they could move Perkins for Young in a subsequent deal. Stein wrote that the Nets covet Young and that the Timberwolves would be willing to move in the right deal and he comes in while averaging 13 points and four rebounds this season.
