National Basketball Association

NBA Trade Rumors: Teams That Should Trade For Brook Lopez

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:30 p.m. ET

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The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly willing to trade starting center Brook Lopez. Which teams should pull the trigger on a move for the All-Star center?

Nov 2, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) gestures after scoring a three point basket during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The Brooklyn Nets have one of the best centers in the NBA in former All-Star Brook Lopez. He’s one of the best scorers at his position, as well as quality defensive presence who excels at contesting shots at the rim.

Due to the Nets’ lack of NBA Draft picks, rival executives appear to believe that Lopez could soon be on the move.

The Nets were without a first-round draft pick in 2012, 2014, and 2016. Brooklyn will also be without a first-round draft pick in 2017 and 2018 as a result of the trade the landed Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.

According to Marc Stein of ESPN, league executives are beginning to think that the Nets are open to moving Lopez before the deadline.

Some rival executives are increasingly convinced that the Nets are open to moving Lopez between now and the February deadline in the proverbial right deal.

The Boston Celtics have been shot down as a potential trading partner, but interest may exist amongst other teams.

Lopez finished the 2015-16 NBA regular season with averages of 20.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game. Though he endured injuries early in his career, he’s played at least 73 games in each of the past two seasons.

The question is: which teams should give serious consideration to trading for Lopez before the 2017 NBA Trade Deadline?

Feb 29, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) is defended by Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) during an NBA game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Honorable Mention: Los Angeles Clippers

This may not be a popular proposition, but the Los Angeles Clippers must accept the reality that DeAndre Jordan hurts the flow of the offense. He’s an elite rebounder, explosive athlete, and plus defender, but his free throw shooting has stunted the Clippers’ offensive growth.

Whenever the Clippers seem to develop a rhythm offensively, elite teams intentionally foul Jordan and obliterate any hope Los Angeles had of going on a game-deciding run.

Trading Jordan for Lopez would be a risky proposition, especially for a team that fought so hard to re-sign him. Lopez is nowhere near the athlete that Jordan is, and his absence of explosiveness could hurt the defense.

The true appeal for Los Angeles is that it could acquire more than just Lopez.

Jordan may be polarizing to fans, but general managers covet him enough to have voted him the No. 1 center in the NBA. Jordan may not even be the type of center whom Sean Marks would prefer, but if he is, then the Clippers could potentially include a third team and land a small forward.

This trade isn’t going to happen, and Los Angeles is likely better off with Jordan, but if Rivers wants to slow things down, Lopez would help him do so.

Jan 30, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Asik (3) guards Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) during the second quarter of the game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

4. New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans have a genuine superstar in Anthony Davis. Beyond Davis, however, is the troubling reality that the Pelicans have an absence of players who can consistently create their own offense against quality opponents.

With Davis becoming more of a well-rounded offensive threat by the season, adding Brook Lopez would give the Pelicans an ideal 1-2 punch down low.

Davis does it all on both ends of the floor, but asking him to do it all is why New Orleans is in its current predicament. Lopez could help alleviate the burden as a low-post scoring threat who can face up or back his man down for an easy 2.

Lopez can also provide Davis with a shot-blocking counterpart who can help stabilize the Pelicans’ abysmal defense.

The Pelicans would need to include a 2017 NBA Draft pick, which may or may not be the right move in this instance. Beyond the pick, New Orleans can utilize Tyreke Evans’ expiring contract and include Alexis Ajinca’s low-cost deal to sweeten the package.

New Orleans shouldn’t go all-in on a trade for Lopez, but for a team with no available star power beyond Davis and a glaring void at center, it’s a deal worth considering.

Jan 15, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) drives against Portland Trail Blazers center Mason Plumlee (24) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

3. Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers have accumulated a roster with quite an intriguing level of talent. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum are joined by a rotation flush with quality players who provide what borders on being invaluable depth.

Given the Brooklyn Nets’ well-documented interest in Allen Crabbe, one simply can’t help but feel as though a Crabbe for Brook Lopez swap would be possible.

Crabbe has plenty of upside, but Lopez is a proven commodity who can provide an efficient 18-to-20 points a night from the post and midrange—skills that Terry Stotts knows how to coach. That’s the type of offensive presence that the Trail Blazers are currently lacking down low.

There’s a deep collection of big men on the roster, but none can go to the post and score without being set up by one of their teammates.

By adding Lopez, the Trail Blazers would have a trio of players who can put up 20 points on any given evening. That would make the power of the depth behind said players even more significant than it already is.

Portland would likely need to offer more than Crabbe, and it’s possible that it could get a deal done without him, but Lopez should be on the radar.

Jan 29, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Zaza Pachulia (27) guards Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeat the Nets 91-79. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

2. Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have one of the better defensive players in the NBA in starting center Andrew Bogut. His presence as a rim protector was instrumental to the Golden State Warriors’ success in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

The Mavericks don’t necessarily need this trade, but Lopez is locked up through 2018 and would provide an invaluable offensive balance in the post.

Dirk Nowitzki is 38 years old and rapidly approaching the end of his Hall of Fame career. By trading for Lopez, owner Mark Cuban would be giving his franchise player a slightly better shot at making another deep postseason run.

Bogut’s defense would be missed, but Lopez is an outstanding shot-blocker with vast offensive superiority—a combination that Rick Carlisle can utilize well enough to help build a 50-win team.

For Brooklyn, the appeal in doing this trade would be Bogut’s expiring contract and the potential to land a first-round draft pick. Lopez is due $22,642,350 in 2017-18, and while he may be a high-quality player, Brooklyn needs cap space.

If the Nets could somehow convince the Mavericks to give up Bogut’s expiring contract, Dwight Powell, and a first-rounder, this would be a win for both sides.

Mar 22, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Frank Kaminsky III (44) and Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) and Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller (40) battle for a rebound during first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

1. Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Bobcats won 43 games and ended the postseason drought behind the efforts of starting center Al Jefferson in 2013-14. The Charlotte Hornets won 48 games while continuing to rely on the presence of quality interior players in 2015-16.

Steve Clifford still values the abilities of a low-post scoring threat, which makes the Hornets the perfect option to acquire Lopez in 2016-17.

Charlotte has four high-quality starters in Kemba Walker, Nicolas Batum, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Marvin Williams. It also has a promising young big man in Frank Kaminsky, whom Clifford has utilized at both big man positions.

If the Hornets are looking to make an immediate run through the Eastern Conference, however, then targeting Lopez should be the focus down low.

Lopez would help stabilize the Hornets’ offense as a low-post presence who complements his back-to-the-basket attack with an efficient midrange game. He’s not much of a rebounder, but he is a shot-blocker who consistently alters shots at the rim.

The Hornets won 48 games with instability at center in 2015-16, and Lopez—a better two-way player than Jefferson—could help them push for 50 in 2016-17.

It would be a risk to part ways with some of the younger players and a draft pick, but Lopez could be worth the risk for Clifford and the Hornets.