The Brooklyn Nets have been an active team this offseason and a Deron Williams trade with Joe Johnson could still be coming over the summer and this comes as the team has signed back Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young and the team has also agreed with Thomas Robinson and Shane Larkin in free agency.
The Nets made their first moves with Lopez and Young soon after free agency opened and they have continued to add players, bringing in Robinson and Larkin. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Nets agreed to a three year deal with Lopez and they have brought in both Larkin and Robinson on two year deals. PBT writes that with the Nets not having a first round pick until the 2019 draft, the team has to be active in free agency with young players and both Larkin and Robinson fit that mold.
According to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders, the Robinson deal has a player option for the second year, while Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Larkin signed a $3 million deal. Robinson gives the Nets a strong front with Young also coming back, as he is an athletic rebounder and solid defender. Larkin had his moments last year while playing for the Knicks and he is still young and could develop more into a starting player. The Nets reportedly may consider trading Deron Williams this summer and that would put Larkin in a bigger contributing role.
Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN New York reports that there "is a trade market" for Deron Williams and that the Nets could consider trading the point guard. The Kings previously were mentioned in trade rumors during the season for Williams and heading into the summer they are interested in adding a point guard. The Kings have targeted Rajon Rondo in free agency and they also have been connected to Ty Lawson in trade rumors. The Kings just missed out on Wesley Matthews, who is agreeing to a deal with the Mavericks.
Last year the Nets tried to get Robinson and now they have him with a two year deal after he previously was a lottery pick in the draft. Adding Lopez and Young was a priority when free agency opened up and the team took care of that quickly. Lopez may have his brother in the same city, as Robin Lopez is reportedly considering a deal with the Knicks. Lopez has reportedly agreed to a $60 million contract after having a strong season and he played in 72 games and stayed healthy after previously dealing with foot issues.
Lopez has been a force for the Nets and he comes in after averaging 17 points and 7.4 points per game last season. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was acquired in a trade for the Nets after being drafted by Portland and now the team has Robinson and Larkin in the mix. The Nets are in a tough cap situation and these moves are mostly low risk and should give the team a chance to contend for a playoff spot in the east.
