In the event you were thinking the Brooklyn Nets would lower their asking price in a Brook Lopez trade as the Feb. 23 deadline inches ever closer, think again.
Lopez’s name, as it tends to do, was thrust back into the rumor mill when The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the New Orleans Pelicans were showing interest in him:
New Orleans has been engaged on several fronts to land a center, including pursuit of Brooklyn's Brook Lopez, sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 6, 2017
The New York Post‘s Brian Lewis followed that up with an important disclaimer: The Nets still want two first-round picks for Lopez’s services.
He wrote:
t’s been reported by The Post, ESPN and YES broadcaster Ian Eagle they may not view Lopez as off limits, but aren’t actively shopping the center and have put a high price tag on him. Sources have said it would take not one, but two first-round picks to land Lopez. Eagle also reported on a recent NetsDaily podcast the Nets would want a lottery pick this year and a first-rounder next year.
The Nets’ asking price (and inactive stance) makes sense here. Lopez has become a valuable leader in their locker room, and there is no rush to trade him. He is under contract through next season, so the Nets could simply ride that deal out, then take stock of their situation in 2018.
And if they actually want to move him, asking for the moon remains a good idea. He has unicorn appeal now that he blocks shots, passes and, most notably, hits a ton of threes. You don’t sell low on those talents, even if your timeline doesn’t align with that of said unicorn.
