The Brooklyn Nets have not been a good team this season and likely won’t be changing that anytime soon. But for the first time in a long time, they appear to be heading in the right direction. The combination of Sean Marks in the front office and Kenny Atkinson on the sidelines has done wonders for the Nets even if their paltry record doesn’t show it.
The Nets have a number of solid young pieces although none appear to project as stars. However, that doesn’t mean that the team is going to be sitting pat. In fact, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, one of those players (Rondae Hollis-Jefferson) could get traded for the right piece.
Hollis-Jefferson’s shot is still busted, and all indications are the Nets will listen when teams call about him, league sources say. But he’s a tenacious defender who is better than you think at weirdo herky-jerky drives on offense.
As Lowe states, Hollis-Jefferson has the huge question mark of not being able to shoot. But he’s already a really good defender even in his sophomore season and looks to have some promise.
The Nets’ willingness to trade him is interesting. His potential can be seen but no one is expecting him to develop into even an all-star level player. My personal guess would be that the Nets would only trade him if they could get a first round pick this summer.
Brooklyn still owes a pick swap to the Celtics so they would likely be picking in the high teens. If they can get another for RHJ in what is projected to be a deep draft, they can continue building with cost-controlled young players that might have more upside than Hollis-Jefferson.
Nevertheless, I think it’s unlikely that Brooklyn actually trades Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. They will listen to offers but I doubt they get the value that they want for him and at some point, continuity is worth more than a constant revolving door of draft picks.
