The Brooklyn Nets are absolutely surging. Since December 7th the Nets are 17-5, tied for the second best record during that time frame. They stand at 25-23 as of this writing with an 84% chance of making the playoffs. Whoever would have thunk it? Now the trade deadline is rapidly approaching on February 7th.

The most realistic scenario is a quiet deadline for Brooklyn. The team clearly wants to return to the post season after the previous few years of hell the fans have endured. However, the Nets want to be major players in the 2019 free agency sweepstakes and will likely have no interest in taking on long term money.

We can still evaluate what the team has to offer and what potential moves may be interesting to Brooklyn.

Objectives

• Improve roster for playoff push/run
• Dump Allen Crabbe’s contract
• Super secretly explore D’Angelo Russell’s trade value

Regarding Russell, the Nets should at least explore what they might get in a trade. Russell’s value is at an all time high right now, and if Brooklyn wants to get into the free agency derby, a split with Russell after the season is almost inevitable.

If the Nets renounce all of their cap holds and are able to trade away Crabbe, the team is looking at ~$72 million in cap space. Keeping Russell is certainly a possibility. However, he will be a restricted free agent, so if he gets an offer on day one Brooklyn will have to quickly figure out whether or not they can land two of the big fish they will be pursuing.

It’s possible Russell returns to Brooklyn this summer. It may even be likely. The odds of him getting traded at the deadline are low due to the fact that teams suffering from playoff droughts won’t ship out offensive focal points in the midst of a playoff run. They just should do the due diligence, even if it leads to no where.

Assets/Liabilities

• Own all future first rounders
• Top-12 protected Denver first rounder 2019
• 2019 NYK second rounder
• Allen Crabbe – $18.5 million 2019-2020 player option
• DeMarre Carroll – $15.4 million expiring
• D’Angelo Russell – $7 million expiring, restricted free agent
• Ed Davis – $4.5 million expiring
• Rondae Hollis-Jefferson – $2.5 expiring, restricted free agent
• Jarrett Allen – two more years of team control, restricted free agent
• Caris LeVert – one more year of team control, restricted free agent
• Rodions Kurucs – two more years of team control, restricted free agent

Team Needs

• Perimeter defense
• Post play
• Wing playmaking
• Finishing

Fake Trades!

It’s best to break this into two buckets; Dumping Crabbe’s deal and minor roster upgrades

Dumping Crabbe’s Deal

Grizzlies Receive: Allen Crabbe, The Protected Denver First Rounder
Nets Receive: Garrett Temple, JaMychal Green

I did cover this trade in my deadline primer for the Memphis Grizzlies, if you’re interested in seeing what Memphis might be up to before February 7th.

Why Memphis Does It: The Nets received a top-12 protected first rounder, and a 2020 second round pick from Denver in the summer of 2018 to take on the $21 million in contracts of Kenneth Faried and Darrell Aruther. The Nuggets have the 4th best record in the league right now and that pick figures to be in the mid-to-late 20’s.

The Grizzlies also might not be scared off by Crabbe picking up his option. Memphis needs more shooting and Crabbe would provide that. He is a career 39.5% shooter from distance, with a career A- grade in perimeter shooting.

Why Brooklyn Does It: The Nets want to be major players in free agency this summer. Allen Crabbe has an $18.5 million player option for the 2019-2020 season. There is a 100% chance Crabbe exercises that option. Getting off his deal will help Brooklyn in its quest to open up two max slots.

Temple and Green would also help the Nets this season. As stated above, two of Brooklyn’s biggest needs are perimeter defense and post play.

As you can see, according to our grading data, Temple has an A- grade this season in perimeter defense, while Green has an A- in post play. Both players are on expiring contracts, and the value of the trade seems to be in line based on the trade the Nets swung in order to obtain the Denver pick.

Kings Receive: Allen Crabbe, The Protected Denver First Rounder
Nets Receive: Iman Shumpert

Why Sacramento Does It: The Kings won’t have their pick this year due to the worst trade in NBA history. (Seriously, when is Sam Hinkie getting an apology and his job back?). Sacramento has the cap space to absorb Crabbe’s deal. Even when Crabbe picks up his option, if the team moves on from Willie Cauley-Stein and Kosta Koufos, they’re still looking at $40.7 million dollars in cap room.

Who might actually take the money is another story. The team could come to a long term agreement with Cauley-Stein and still have plenty of room. The point is, the Kings do this trade for the pick because there really isn’t any downside for them.

Why Brooklyn Does It: Not only does Brooklyn dump Crabbe, but Shumpert is grading out as a B perimeter defender this season, matching his career grade. Shumpert is on an expiring deal.

Cavaliers Receive: Allen Crabbe, The Protected Denver First Rounder
Nets Receive: J.R. Smith

Why Cleveland Does It: As we saw with the, Cavs/Bucks trade, Cleveland appears to understand the situation they are in. They are open to taking on long term money in exchange for draft capital.

Why Brooklyn Does It: J.R. Smith has a partially guaranteed salary of only $3.9 million for next season. The Nets may not like the idea of stretching that money, but $1.3 million on the books for the next three seasons is a lot better than the $18.5 hindering their free agency positioning due to the Crabbe player option.

Minor Upgrades

This is going to be tricky because the Nets won’t want to take on any long term money.

Bulls Receive: Allen Crabbe, The Protected Denver First Rounder
Nets Receive: Robin Lopez

Why Chicago Does It: The team is openly shopping Lopez. Chicago has dreams of being a free agency player in 2019, but if they come to their senses they take the Denver pick in exchange for taking on Crabbe.

Why Brooklyn Does It: You could also put this in the “Dumping Crabbe” bucket. The Nets get off Crabbe but Robin Lopez would also help Brooklyn. Lopez is posting an A- in the post play category this season, which matches his career grade of an A-. Also the Nets acquiring the other Lopez twin would just be a cool story line.

Mavericks Receive: Allen Crabbe, The Protected Denver First Rounder
Nets Receive: Wesley Matthews

Why Dallas Does It: Similar to Chicago, the Mavericks want to be a 2019 free agent player but might be kidding themselves. They likely won’t have their pick this year either due to the Luka Doncic trade.

Why Brooklyn Does It: Again, this could be in the “Dumping Crabbe” bucket, but Matthews would really help this team, including in some areas of need (wing play making, post play).

Pistons Receive: Stanley Johnson
Nets Receive: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

Isn’t it just fitting that this pair of 2015 first round Arizona Wildcats teammates get traded for each other?

Why Detroit Does It: Hollis-Jefferson is a better shot creator than Johnson, and that’s what the Pistons need. Hollis-Jefferson is grading out as an A- in one on one, and a B in both play making and post play this season.

Why Brooklyn Does It: Johnson, on the other hand, is what the Nets need for the remainder of the season, as he is grading out as an A- perimeter defender.

Shoot Your Shot

Wizards Receive: Jared Dudley, DeMarre Carroll, Jarrett Allen, Brooklyn’s 2019 First Rounder Top 3 Protected, The Protected Denver First Rounder, 2019 New York Second Rounder
Nets Receive: Bradley Beal

Why Washington Does It: They don’t

Why Brooklyn Does It: #BigGameBeal