Now more than one Eastern Conference team could pull off a multi-trade deal with Brooklyn. But who comes into play here?
Trade scenarios continue to sprout involving the Brooklyn Nets. Including how much longer the franchise can keep names like Michael Porter Jr., Nic Claxton and Cam Thomas.
Now a multiple team partnership could take fold.
Erik Slater of ClutchPoints helped map it out on Monday. Slater mentions how the Nets own a league-best $15.2 million in cap space.
"Following a busy offseason, the rebuilding squad remains open for business as a dumping ground for unwanted contracts," Slater wrote.
He cites the Philadelphia 76ers as one team that could partner with the Nets for this reason: Potentially adding a low-cost veteran in Kelly Oubre.
"Of those, Oubre is the only plausible trade candidate in a cost-cutting move," Slater said. "However, the 76ers will be hesitant to part with the forward, who has averaged 14.6 points on .490/.380/.733 shooting spits across 22 appearances this season. Philadelphia could work out a three-team trade where it receives assets and another unwanted contract, which could be rerouted to Brooklyn."
Yet Oubre isn't the only name mentioned here as a Nets possibility.
"Andre Drummond is a more likely salary-dump candidate," Slater added. "The veteran center is on a $5 million expiring contract. The 76ers could package draft compensation with Drummond and a pair of minimum contracts to dump them into the Nets' cap space. However, that would leave Philadelphia with several open roster spots and a need at backup center."
Then there's one more East team that enters the picture.
"The Orlando Magic are another team to watch regarding a cost-cutting move that could involve Brooklyn," Slater said. "They're $5.6 million above the luxury tax line and have two players on expiring, mid-sized contracts — Tyus Jones ($7 million) and Jett Howard ($5.5 million) — who aren't integral pieces."
Speaking of the latter...
"Howard's father, Juwan, is an assistant coach for the Nets," Slater adds.
Finally, Slater mentions one more eastern team at play in this proposed scenario -- but includes two out west.
"The Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns could also partner with Brooklyn on a trade," Slater said. "Each is less than $1 million above the tax line and should be motivated to dip below it. Each season, half of the NBA's collected luxury tax payments are distributed equally among non-taxpaying teams."
Safe to say -- one of these teams or multiple will be involved in rearranging the Nets' roster by Feb. 5.
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