The Brooklyn Nets are open to trading center Brook Lopez, reports ESPN’s Marc Stein:
But what’s happening behind the scenes is newsy, too. Some rival executives are increasingly convinced that the Nets are open to moving Lopez between now and the February deadline in the proverbial right deal.
Rumblings of Boston interest have been forcefully shot down by sources familiar with the Celtics’ thinking, but the situation bears monitoring … and not simply because the Celts could ultimately decide that a big in-season move is wisest in the event they can’t create as much cap space next summer as they once hoped.
Stein stresses that while the Nets are open to a Lopez trade, they are not actively shopping the big man:
Sources stressed to ESPN.com in recent days that they believe the Nets, as it stands, are merely fielding calls and doing their due diligence. Listening to other teams, in other words, as opposed to shopping the former All-Star center.
Four games into the season, Lopez is averaging 19.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in just 24.5 minutes per game.
In the Nets’ most recent game vs. the Detroit Pistons, Lopez had his best game of the season by far, scoring 34 points and pulling down 11 rebounds in 29 minutes. He also made four of his eight three-point attempts.
Lopez was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team in 2013.
