As the only NBA team with cap room, the Nets figure to be active on the in-season trade market and will be open to taking on unwanted salary if it comes attached to a more valuable asset. However, as Brian Lewis of The New York Post writes (subscription required), there will be over-the-cap teams around the NBA with the ability to accommodate salary dumps using various exceptions, so Brooklyn will have competition in that space.
“It’ll be interesting. There’s other teams in the market for taking on money: Utah will be in that market, Washington will be in that market,” an assistant GM told Lewis. “We’ll see if the Nets — again, it’s worked out for (general manager) Sean (Marks) in some respects — but the Nets have often charged a premium for (that). They’ve wanted to hold to their valuation and get a number they feel really good about. So we’ll see if they get undercut in that salary dump market, if other teams want to do it cheaper.”
According to Lewis, the Nets are also expected to listen to inquiries on several of their own players, including guard Cam Thomas. But Thomas has the ability to veto any deal that involves him and it’s unclear whether there will be much of a market for him anyway, Lewis writes.
“Obviously, we’ve all seen him have these games where he can fill it up, and there’s a certain segment of the Nets fan base that is obsessed with him,” a veteran Eastern Conference executive said of Thomas. “And yet, I think this is another coaching staff now where it doesn’t seem like the coaching staff (is all-in on) him, doesn’t seem like he helps the team win.
“But I try to value every player around the league, to understand what other teams are going to do. And I wonder if anybody is going to pay him a mid-level. I know he thinks he’s worth a lot more than that, but he won’t get more than that. I feel like I wouldn’t be interested in really having him on my team at all. But also, as you say that, then you play against him and he scores 30 points … in one of those games where shots are going in and you feel like an idiot for saying it.”
Here are several more trade-related notes and rumors from around the NBA:
- Checking in on the Mavericks‘ trade plans, Christian Clark of The Athletic says the team is willing to listen on several of its veterans, but wants to be competitive and isn’t inclined to hold a fire sale prior to this season’s deadline. Clark also spoke to multiple sources with rival teams who think Dallas is more likely to hang onto Anthony Davis through the deadline than trade him on or before February 5.
- Sam Amick of The Athletic recently suggested that the Suns have had interest in Kings center Domantas Sabonis in the past and could be among his suitors if he’s on the trade block this season. However, Gerald Bourget of Suns After Dark (Patreon link) hears from a source that Phoenix isn’t interested in making a play for Sabonis.
- Following up on rumors indicating that the Pacers are on the lookout for their center of the future, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star considers which players Indiana might target on the trade market.
- Looking ahead to the trade deadline, Zach Harper of The Athletic considers which NBA teams should be preparing to buy, which will be sellers, and which will probably end up standing pat. Meanwhile, John Hollinger of The Athletic shares his “All-Deadline Team” for 2025/26, identifying several players he thinks will dominate trade rumors and be involved in deals this season. In addition to obvious names like Jonathan Kuminga, Hollinger spends some time discussing more under-the-radar trade candidates like Timberwolves guard Mike Conley, Thunder forward Ousmane Dieng, Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan, and Wizards guard CJ McCollum.
- In his own look ahead at trade season, Kurt Helin of NBC Sports singles out a few potential candidates to be dealt and considers potential fits for some of them, speculating that Nets center Nic Claxton could be an option for the Warriors and suggesting that the Lakers will have interest in Kings guard Keon Ellis.
This might be a quiet trade year. A lot of the teams that should be selling don’t seem all that interested in doing so. If some of the reporting is to is to be believed, GM’s have all gotten a little tight fisted with draft picks. But who knows…
Conley, Dieng and Sochan are great targets for movement.. the latter 2 are still interesting young assets for rebuilding teams… and I had Conley possibly ending up with the Nets as a vet PG mentor.
Celts: Sharpe
Nets: Conley, Tillman, C’s high 2nd (32nd pick)
Bulls: Hauser & the TWs FRP
TWs: Coby White
Celts get below the apron.
Nets get expiring deals and a high 2nd
Bulls get another 1st and something for Coby
TWs get Coby
Not a bad haul for each team. Lets see if it really goes that way
I think just that TWs 1st has to convey on draft day.
The lakers are playing well with the current roster they have, so I doubt they’ll be aggressive enough to break that team up for a guy like Ellis. They need more defensive minded players imo. They have enough scoring.
Main Ellis is about defense. On ball defense which the Lakers need badly.
He is also a good 3 point shooter, so don’t be cheap. Probably require them sending out the only first they gave on 2031. Although, the Celtics will be stipid to trade him hid thst cheap, but then again they aren’t known for being savvy.
I’d love to get Noah Clowney. It ain’t happening, but I would see what they want for him. Good size at 6’10 and hitting 36% of his 3PTA thus far into the season. Really starting to blossom for them.
I dont see Boston trading Hauser, Tillman and a pick for Sharpe. Besides, that Hauser contract is extremely valuable building a winner going forward with today’s CBA, as is Pritchards.
Well with Walsh, Schierman and Hugo, Hauser is probably expendable.. plus he’s just a 3 pt specialist. And there’s probably a bigger need for a big.
And it gets them under the apron I think.