trades 2016

Christmas just ended which means we have entered the trading season! Before Christmas is the feeling out process with teams. After Christmas and between the trade deadline is obviously trade season and after that is the stretch run.

Every team needs to look at the standings today because it is most likely where they will end up unless they make a trade.

The Nets are 9-22 and in 14^th place with no chance of moving up. The Nets are obviously sellers, but what do they have to sell?

Untouchables

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson- Before his injury was the best player on the Nets. With him being on his rookie contract there is no reason to trade him.

Chris McCullough- Some of you may be wondering who this is. He was also a first round pick this year but hasn’t played due to an ACL injury. He’s untouchable because he’s young and under a rookie contract; players like him and RHJ are exactly what the Nets need.

Offers that need to blow you away

Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young- If I’m the Nets, I wouldn’t trade these two this year and my reasoning isn’t basketball. This offseason Lopez signed a three year $60 million contract and Thad signed a four year $50 million contract. It isn’t a good look to trade players in year one of a big contract. Thad Young’s family is all over social media and they love Brooklyn. Basketball players are more than contracts (someone tell Sam Hinkie). They are actually people and it would be wise for the Nets to hold onto these two. Plus, they probably will have more value when some years come off their contracts.

Young guys you shouldn’t trade, but might

Shane Larkin “Lighting”- Larkin has been a good find for the Nets. He should be kept around in case the Nets trade Jarrett Jack. If Jack is traded, Larkin would be the logical guy to start at point and it would be smart to let him play 30 minutes. But how good is Larkin? Trading him for another young player or a pick might be wise. I would keep him but he certainly isn’t untouchable.

Thomas Robinson- This poor guy is traded every five months and I wouldn’t be surprised if he got traded again. First off he should be playing, not nailed to the bench. T-Rob has one of the best net ratings on the team but can’t crack the rotation. At some point he will start getting some burn.

Markel Brown- Unfortunately for Markel, he is blocked by other talent, I don’t think he gets traded but he could get playing time if the Nets move a wing 

Willie “Showtime” Reed- Reed has only played 12 games but his impact has been noticed. He has jumped Bargs in the rotation and is the first big off the bench. Reed isn’t untouchable but the Nets might have found a diamond in the rough. He deserves to be looked at for a full season by the Nets.

No value  

Andrea Bargnani- Yupp, that about sums that up.

Donald Sloan- Sloan played OK when Larkin was out, but if you can’t crack the rotation on a team that is 9-22 where are you going to crack the rotation? Hello China!

Sergey Karasev- He doesn’t play. This leads me to believe he has no value. I don’t see him cracking an NBA rotation anywhere. Maybe it’s best for him to play in Europe for a year or two and boost his value.

Joe Johnson-… Oh how the mighty have fallen. Johnson not only has no value but he’s untradeable! He is making almost $25 million this year. Joe Johnson might be the worst player in the NBA considering his production at his pay rate. Johnson will probably be bought out post trade deadline and (just a guess) ends up on the Clippers. That sounds like Doc Rivers.

Some Value?

Wayne Ellington- If you would have asked me this a month ago I would have laughed in your face, but now? Meh? Maybe? In December he shot 42% from the three. If a team wants a vet toward the end of the bench Ellington might be that guy. His value is a 2^nd round pick.

Guys who should be traded

Jarrett Jack- He gets a lot of hate from Net fans, some deserving some not, but he is still an effective NBA point guard. Teams looking to make the playoffs and need a backup point guard will be calling the Nets about Jack. He has two years left on his deal but can be bought out after this year at $500k. What teams will be interested? Jack ranks 21 (out of point guards) in ESPN real plus minus at 0.05. A lot of teams in the East could use Jack; and I think he will be traded because there is no value in keeping him. He could bring back a young player or MAYBE a pick late first round or heavily protected first round pick.

Bojan Bogdanovic-The Nets dangled Bojan around during the draft but opted to keep him, but now might be the time to trade him. He’s a role player on a playoff team, and the Nets are certainly not a playoff team. Bojan is on a good contract. Bojan started the season slowly but in December he’s shooting 44% from three. What playoff team doesn’t want that? He could net a second round pick which won’t float many people’s boats but I think it’s worth a trade.

Yeah, the Nets don’t have much to look forward to this year come trade deadline.

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