The Brooklyn Nets still have a lot of the offseason to go through, and while they have made most of their moves for next season, anything can happen between now and when the season starts. Since the offseason is still going strong, it could be worth pondering what mock trades could be viable for the Nets.
With the way that the offseason has gone with star players being traded, such as Bradley Beal being traded to the Phoenix Suns, it’s interesting to wonder if the same thing could happen to Brooklyn. Nets fans thought that they were getting Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard at some point this summer, but with the recent reports of Lillard’s desire to only play for the Miami Heat, Brooklyn will have to look a different way.
This mock trade proposed by James Piercey of the NBA Analysis Network does not include the Nets getting Lillard or Miami’s Tyler Herro, but it does involve an important member for Brooklyn:
The Mock Trade:
Brooklyn Nets receive: Al Horford and Payton Pritchard
Boston Celtics receive: Dorian Finney-Smith
Should the Nets do this trade?
On the surface, trading away Finney-Smith for Horford and Pritchard seems like a win because of what both players bring to Brooklyn along with filling positions of need. Brooklyn still doesn’t have a third big man that it feels comfortable going to, though Noah Clowney could be that guy, so getting Horford to play that role would be great.
Pritchard, on the other hand, would be among a group of guards that arguably should see playing time over him. Spencer Dinwiddie is the current starter while Cam Thomas should be the first guard off the bench for next season. After that, Brooklyn now has Dennis Smith Jr. and Lonnie Walker IV to turn to so it appears that Pritchard would just be for depth.
Despite how important Finney-Smith is to Brooklyn’s defense and offensive spacing, trading him could be a net positive for the Nets as long as Horford can still produce. Plus, Brooklyn has been open to trading Royce O’Neale and/or Finney-Smith in order to address needs and this trade would do exactly that.
Verdict: Yes, the Nets should do this trade.
Story originally appeared on Nets Wire