What if: Nets call asking our interest in Lopez

[Moranis]

Say the Nets decide to really start over before the draft and call up Ainge and make the following offer:

Johnson, Jerekbo, Dallas, Boston

for

Lopez

Do you do it?  Boston doesn't really need the mid 1st rounders but would lose cap flexibility.  I suspect Brooklyn would keep all 4 players so they would get a lot of depth (though no one as good as Lopez), which may hurt our future picks (or it might not).  So is that a trade you make before the draft.

[PhoSita]

His foot issues still worry me, and I don't think he's a great fit for the rest of the roster.  Not sure our guys make him better or that he makes our guys better.

Lopez isn't the sort of guy I want the Celts going after unless they've already added another superior talent on the wing or at PF first.

[Roy H.]

Probably. There's some risk, and there are other guys I prefer, but he's a legit talent.  It also hurts the Nets the next two seasons, which helps our picks.

[Vermont Green]

I would give up the package indicated for Lopez.  I don't expect that he would transcend the team but for Johnson and Jerebko plus two not so hot picks?

I think even the Nets could find a better trade than this though.

[PhoSita]

Just for reference, here is how the Celts and Nets rank in pace over the last three seasons:


Celts

15-16: 3rd, 101.3
14-15: 5th, 98.4
13-14: 15th, 95.9

Nets

15-16: 21st, 97.4
14-15: 24th, 95.0
13-14: 25th, 93.7



Also:


Consider where the Celts rank in Defensive Rebound Rate this season . . . tied for 22nd.

In Defensive Rebound Percentage, Brook Lopez ranks 47th out of 53 players at C or PF/C who played at least 40 games and averaged at least 16 minutes per game with a DRB% of 17.2.

[Quetzalcoatl]

I'd be really tempted to string them along and then not make the deal at the last minute 

[bdm860]

Not a big Lopez fan, but that would be pretty good value, would be hard to turn it down.

Definitely not a cap guy, so would Boston still be able to sign two max guys in free agency?  With the C position locked up, do you still go after Horford to play PF?  Would Lopez and Horford play well together (seems slow and would struggle to guard any stretch 4/5's)?  If you don't go after Horford because of Lopez, is there another max guy outside of Durant worth pursuing?  I can only think of DeRozen but don't think he's likely to switch teams.

If the C's couldn't sign 2 max guys, or Lopez and Horford can't play together, then this also leads to the question would you rather have Lopez or Horford?  I have a feeling the vast majority of this blog is saying Horford, but they've both missed the same number of seasons due to injury, Lopez is 2 years younger and has better individual stats.  Also it's probably much better value having Lopez for 2 years at 20m per (through age 30), instead of having Horford for 4 seasons at 25m per (through age 34).  Whatever happens, I have serious doubts that Horford will be worth anything close to  the money he's getting at the end of his contract.  Having Lopez would also improve the team if they strike out in free agency.

Not a Lopez fan, but I don't think you can turn that deal down.  Preferably, I'd hope Danny could pull off a bigger trade using those picks (plus other assets) to get somebody like Butler, Cousins, or Griffin, etc.

[CelticD]

His foot issues still worry me, and I don't think he's a great fit for the rest of the roster.  Not sure our guys make him better or that he makes our guys better.

Lopez isn't the sort of guy I want the Celts going after unless they've already added another superior talent on the wing or at PF first.

What's it mean to make other players better? I've seen this sorta quote a lot when it comes to evaluating players. Lopez is a presence down low that would command double teams, leaving guys in the perimeter open for shots. wouldnt that make our guys better in the scenario?

lopez is a potent offensive big man, with serious class, and good locker room personality. from what i could gather from nets fans here in brooklyn, his biggest issues are intangibles (i.e, he doesnt get angry, he's too soft etc.). he has good range for a big, great FT%, subpar rebounding, and nagging health concerns (although he's played 70+ games the last 2 seasons).

[PhoSita]

What's it mean to make other players better?

Basically, it means that a player's presence on the floor makes it easier for other guys on the team to do what they do well, and lessens the need for the other players to do things they do not do well.

Lopez is a plodding post-up big who needs lots of touches in the paint.  The Celts have built a team that gets by offensively despite a lack of overall talent by playing really fast and keeping the ball moving, or when all else fails, spacing the floor and letting Isaiah or ET attack the basket.  It's hard to see how Lopez would fit into that.

Brook doesn't really help the Celts in their weakest areas, either.  He's a poor defensive rebounder and he doesn't shoot the three.  He gets to the line five times a game, which is good, but not as much as you'd probably like to see from a guy who takes 16 shots a game and uses lots of possessions for post-ups.


I like Brook.  I think he's a good player.  I'd be happy to see him on a team with a chance of doing something in the playoffs.

For the Celts, I'd much rather have his brother.

[danglertx]

I tell him"NO!" and change my phone number.

[max215]

I don't know. It's good value, but I think Lopez is very overrated and really doesn't fit what we need. Our ideal big is mobile, young, athletic, a defensive anchor, a rim-runner, and does not need offense designed for him. That is essentially the opposite of Lopez (and it's basically a description of Nerlens Noel), and that's not even taking the foot issues into account.

[Csfan1984]

It would depend. It's a decent deal. Team could lose Sully and Turner so I'm for adding Young and Lopez if the price is right and FA is a bust.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

First, I thought the thread title meant the Nets have called. 

Second, his offensive and rebounding talents are tantalizing, but I don't trust him with his injury history.

[Big333223]

Just for reference, here is how the Celts and Nets rank in pace over the last three seasons:


Celts

15-16: 3rd, 101.3
14-15: 5th, 98.4
13-14: 15th, 95.9

Nets

15-16: 21st, 97.4
14-15: 24th, 95.0
13-14: 25th, 93.7



Also:


Consider where the Celts rank in Defensive Rebound Rate this season . . . tied for 22nd.

In Defensive Rebound Percentage, Brook Lopez ranks 47th out of 53 players at C or PF/C who played at least 40 games and averaged at least 16 minutes per game with a DRB% of 17.2.

This.

I might be interested in a plodding center if he could anchor a defense, gobble up rebounds, and throw break-starting outlet passes but I don't know that Lopez checks any of those boxes.

[Lucky17]

Would rather save those trade pieces for something more exciting. Even if I had to add more to land that bigger fish.