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…
^ what are “comments that will age like milk” for $1000, Alex
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.
Sure, Ellis has potential to be a great 2 way player but he’s a small guard. My point is the lakers have enough guards. They need more athleticism and rim protection to make a deep run this year.
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.
Clowney for the bulls would be nice. But the nets probably want picks for him, so I’d look elsewhere. Best bet is to draft a high upside big man and move on from players that don’t fit the timeline or can’t contribute to what the team is building upon
That’s our problem lmao, we usually draft the wrong guys or hold onto them too long. Clowney with Giddey would be nice.
Giddey is the only guy right now that I can honestly say that he’s 100% untouchable (based on our roster construction) right now.
20.1/9.3/8.8 with 47.8%/39.8%/75.2% in 33.7 MPG.
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.
It also makes a lot of sense for the Thunder to exchange at least 1 of their 1sts this year for a future pick. They have 3 (or 4 if the Jazz fubar their tank) 1sts coming up and will have a major roster crunch.
In the last 48 hours:
-Steve Kerr ADMITS he is clueless, and failing the team. “I’m not doing my job well.” His own words, not mine. You all lied when you told me I was “crazy” or “clueless” when I correctly criticized Kerr, when he himself is now admitting it.
-Lacob personally replies to a fan, saying “You can’t be as frustrated as me. I am working on it. It’s complicated,” Lacob responded in the email. “Style of play. Coaches [sic] desires regarding players. League trends. Jimmy is not the problem.”
So, Kerr has lost Lacob. Look, the Warriors are a great team with an elite ceiling, but they cannot reach that ceiling when their leading rebounder is getting DNP’d vs a team with bigs – so, Kerr is entirely to blame here. GSW have the worst coach in the NBA in 2025, who is now washed up and utterly cooked in this league. Every single fan and even every poster on here knows better than to play Buddy Hield, Gary Payton II, Moses Moody and GSW’s other SG’s at SF and PF. Small ball plays ZERO defense, we ALL know this! So what is the point of it, if it’s so easily countered? Only Kerr can answer that, and this alone proves most of these 14 losses could have been avoided if Buddy, Podz and GP2 were not on the roster and Kerr was not the coach.
Every single Kerr defender who has argued with me needs to apologize immediately. Once again, I was right and you were wrong. If Kerr goes, GSW will actually contend for real again.
“Steve Kerr ADMITS he is clueless, and failing the team. “I’m not doing my job well.” His own words, not mine. You all lied when you told me I was “crazy” or “clueless” when I correctly criticized Kerr, when he himself is now admitting it.”
The only thing I’ll say in response to this is would you prefer someone like Trump who would never admit fault under any circumstances due to ego, narcissism, and insecurity? I hate that our society seems to value liars and grifters over people with the humility to admit when they would be at fault for something. That is real leadership (so long as it’s backed up by actions, of course).
You have to remember when reading anything Davey writes is that he has KDS, Kerr Derangement Syndrome. He has stated that Kerr has been controlled by Islamic Terrorists for the past 40 years. Why? I haven’t figured that out. He has said multiple times that people owe him apologies for something vague. We can go on and on for all the weirdness coming from him. It seems he really wants a lot of attention.
@sheagoodbye
Bro, when you are saying “At least Kerr isn’t a Trump type” you have no argument at all. Also, Kerr literally will keep doing small ball until he is fired anyway – Kerr’s words are not Trumpian, but his actions 100% are. He will keep sticking to playing Podz and Buddy instead of Moody and Kuminga.
Kuminga is the teams leading rebounder and he is DNPing him as if he is a rookie vs teams like the Wolves who have two big rebounders, who he instead thinks 6’1″ Melton is going to be the answer for Randle/Rudy. Steve has been committing nonstop malpractice since the Draymond/Poole punch and there’s no argument otherwise. He himself admits it.
I’m barely on here, but I agree with you. Kerr’s time is up. The team is older now and the glory days are pretty much in the rear view mirror. The team is still fun to watch because of Steph’s greatness, but it’s time for a change. Kerr has to go, and the team needs a fresh and inspiring voice to takeover the coaching spot
^ exactly. You my friend, know ball.
How about Kuminga for Sochan and Olynyk?
The Spurs already have too many wings and with wemby losing so many games Olynyk needs to Stay. The Spurs already have a Kuminga type player in Keldon who is very athletic, good rebounder but a poor 3 point shooter.
They don’t even have minutes to give to Carter Bryant who is a very promising prospect.
Yeahh the spurs have good depth but I can honestly see a future where they lose guys like Bryant because of a lack of playing time.
What about Anfernee Simons and this years first round pick and second round pick for Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford.
Klay holds negative value and they are looking to move Gafford. Simons gives them help in the backcourt and is on an expiring contract. So in terms of value your getting back picks to use in this years draft as well. Not bad for Dallas at all.
As for Boston, Queta has done alright but the centre position/bigs are still their weak area. Gafford would be a major upgrade and Queta would still have a solid role to play backing him up. Klay Thompson I think would work well too because of his championship experience, his need to not have the ball in his hands and just catch and shoot and the Celtics take a lot of threes.
Next year you could look like
White Klay Brown Tatum Gafford
Pritchard Hugo/Walsh Minnott Hauser Queta
5 good starters, 2 star players, one of the best sixth men in the league, plenty of 3 and D wings/forwards and a solid back up big. Plenty of experience, good amount of youth and athleticism, great head coach and well run organisation.
That’s what I’d be looking at doing.