With the Brooklyn Nets reportedly expressing their interest in trading their cornerstones, many NBA analysts and followers alike are curious whether the Los Angeles Lakers front office will pursue those All-Stars on the trading front.
At 6-16, it's no secret the purple-and-gold badly needs talents to stay in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, and there's no doubt that Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez have plenty left in their tanks.
According to Marc Stein of ESPN, the Nets have not engaged yet into trade talks but they are now gauging interest whether they can acquire significant talents by pulling off a blockbuster deal.
"The Brooklyn Nets have begun reaching out to teams to let them know that former All-Stars Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson are available via trade, ESPN.com has learned."
"League sources told ESPN.com that the Nets, off to a disappointing 8-11 start and looking to retool after last season's $190 million roster filled with veterans couldn't advance beyond the second round of the playoffs, have let it be known that they are prepared to move any of those franchise cornerstones in what would likely be separate deals if they came to fruition because of the high salaries each possess."
How Can the Lakers Get it Done?
It's unknown whether general manager Mitch Kupchack is interested in making deals for the service of these All-Star caliber players. However, the 7-foot Lopez might pique the interest of the Lakers since they don't have a legitimate center on their roster.
Moreover, Lopez's paycheck ($15M per year) for the next two seasons is the lowest among the three trade available Nets player with Williams and Johnson getting at least $20M each.
If the Lakers would try to bolster their frontline by adding Lopez, they might have to sacrifice budding power forward Jordan Hill along with the expiring contract of Jeremy Lin and a first-round pick (possibly the pick they gained from the Houston Rockets).
Although acquiring Lopez would come with a risk because of his injuries these past three seasons, putting him in the middle of the paint would surely make significant impact on both ends of the floor.
The 26-year old Lopez is averaging 16.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game this season, while shooting 48 percent from the field and 82 percent from the free-throw line. He was sidelined for the first week of the season with a foot injury and again rested for several games because of back problems.
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