Unexplored Trade Options: The Brooklyn Nets
Next up in the unexplored trade series, we have the Brooklyn Nets. Now, this is an interesting case since the Nets were forced to sign so many extra players for the Orlando Bubble. This means that a huge portion of their roster isn’t available for trade. That being said, I tried to think creatively and thought of something that I think could benefit both sides.
Celtics Trade: Gordon Hayward, 2020 2nd Round Pick (via BKN)
Nets Trade: Caris LeVert, Taurean Prince
For the Celtics, giving up Hayward may seem like a big hit. He’s been one of the more consistent players when on the floor, but the issue lies in the injuries. His struggles to stay healthy are becoming more and more relevant as he continues to get hurt. They all may seem like freak injuries, but how many times does he have to get injured in order to be deemed “injury prone.”
That being said, if the Nets are unable to pull off a deal for a third superstar (I.E. Bradley Beal), a guy like Hayward might just be the perfect second option. He proved that he can play at an All-Star level in Utah, and then showed his ability to take a back seat and still be effective during his time in Boston. Despite popular belief, this past year may have been just good as his last year in Utah. His numbers are nearly identical aside from a dropoff in points, but when you consider his role on each team, that’s to be expected.
He would fit alongside Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant super well, providing some much-needed playmaking to a Nets roster that doesn’t have much of it outside of Spencer Dinwiddie. Hayward may be one of the most underappreciated players in the league just because of his contract, but he most certainly has the talent to be a third-string guy on a championship team.
As for Brooklyn, it may seem scary to give up a guy like Caris LeVert who just had the best stretch of his career in the NBA bubble. However, there has been some talk since then about what his role is going to be on the Nets next season. Are they going to have him start and just take a backseat to Irving and Durant? Will he come off the bench with Dinwiddie to form a killer second unit? Will he end up in a trade to get that third star? Well, in this case, the third question rings true.
As for Taurean Prince, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Nets are throwing him around in trade offers this offseason. He’s coming off of what many see as a disappointing season in Brooklyn, but a large part of that is because of the role he was expected to fulfill. He was a solid piece in Atlanta, but once he was in Brooklyn it must have been a super big transition for him to deal with.
Boston would be getting two guys that could help them win immediately, while also shedding around five million dollars in cap space. Caris LeVert could easily step into the starting lineup, as Boston could simply move Jaylen Brown to the small forward position. The C’s would also get an extra piece to come off their bench in Prince, something they are desperately going to be looking for this offseason.
Let me know what you guys think of this deal, and who else you think Boston could look to trade for this offseason!
