The Indiana Pacers are trying to make a trade for the Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez, but does it make sense for either side?
According to NBA.com’s Peter Vecsey, the Indiana Pacers are trying to acquire Brooklyn Nets’ center Brook Lopez.
Wow. If the Pacers are trying to get Paul George some help, this would be a move in the right direction. Do the Pacers have enough to offer, though? Vecsey hinted that they could offer Al Jefferson, Rodney Stuckey, and their 2017 1st round draft pick.
Whether that’s the exact package being discussed, it isn’t clear, but it is at least a starting point for a discussion. Indiana would need to find the right contracts to match Lopez’s $20 million salary in one way or another.
I leave u with this: Pacers R trying 2 get Lopez. Will their 2017 No. 1, Jefferson & Stuckey satisfy BK? Can Nets get more from C's or NO?
— Peter Vecsey (@PeterVecsey1) February 20, 2017
The Nets are building from scratch and currently have just 9 wins and 47 losses on the season. Lopez is one of the best players to ever put on a Nets uniform, but it’s likely time to move on or find value moving forward. Brook is in his prime at 28 years old and the Nets won’t be winning for a while.
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This season, Lopez is averaging 20.8 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game and 2.5 assists per game. He’s also made 90 three-pointers this season. Prior to this season, he made just three — THREE — total three-pointers in his career. He’s adapted to the new phase of the NBA.
This draws a lot of questions for the Pacers. Would Myles Turner and Brook play together? Who would play the power forward position? Would Brook come off the bench? Would Thaddeus Young come off the bench? Could the Pacers slide Paul George to the two, and Thaddeus Young to the three? It would be very intriguing to see what would happen if Indiana can make this trade without giving up any of their current starters.
To be clear: nothing is imminent. The Pacers are interested in Lopez, according to Vecsey, but that doesn’t mean the Nets are. The Nets could find a better offer out there, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens. What this does mean, though, is that Larry Bird is not messing around. Those reports about Indiana trying to get Paul George some more help are very accurate. Whether it’s Brook Lopez or not, it appears the Indiana Pacers will actively be looking to make a trade.
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The trade deadline is on February 23rd at 3 p.m.