NBA Trade Rumors: Brooklyn Nets Now Shopping Brook Lopez

NBA trade rumors are stating that Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov has changed his mind and that Brook Lopez is no longer off limits before the deadline this month, according to Hoops Rumors. For a while there, Prokhorov was telling the media that the only two players on the Nets roster that were off limits were Lopez and Thaddeus Young, but something must have changed since then.

Since their team isn’t really built to win an NBA Championship, the Brooklyn Nets need a new head coach and new general manager. A new franchise player might also be necessary. With all due respect to Brook Lopez, you’re not going to be the best team in the National Basketball Association if he’s the top player on your roster. He’s a very talented player, but he’s not dominant enough to do it on his own, so being the second or third star on a team might be a more favorable situation for him.

The Miami Heat are a team that could use a third star. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh know that it’s a tough mountain to climb when trying to beat LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference. Having a traditional center like Brook Lopez would allow Chris Bosh to roam a bit more. Tristan Thompson doesn’t have the girth to defend Lopez, and Kevin Love has never been known as a great defender, so this could be quite the advantage for the Heat over the Cavaliers.

The Los Angeles Lakers have some good young talent on the roster in D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle. Those guys are going to need a high quality center, especially if Roy Hibberts gets traded to an NBA Playoffs contender this month. Since Russell, Clarkson, and Randle are young players, they could benefit from playing with a veteran like Lopez.

The Milwaukee Bucks are interested in moving Greg Monroe because he is too much of a defensive liability than they thought he would be when they lured him away from the Detroit Pistons in free agency. Brook Lopez isn’t much of a threat to the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, but he would be an upgrade on that side of the ball over Monroe. Milwaukee really needs to solidify their front court because there’s some really good perimeters players on the roster.

The Chicago Bulls are looking for size, especially if they trade away Pau Gasol this month. Joakim Noah is out for the season after suffering a shoulder injury, and he might choose to find another NBA team when free agency begins. Nikola Mirotic is still recovering from an emergency surgery, and there’s a chance that he might not be back any time soon. Brook Lopez would not have to carry the burden of stardom on his back because Jimmy Butler does a pretty good job of that.

The Brooklyn Nets don’t necessarily have to trade Brook Lopez. There’s a good chance that NBA general managers aren’t going to giving up the farm to get the seven-foot center. In that scenario, whoever becomes the new Nets general manager is going to need to surround Lopez with more talent. If they can somehow pick up two more stars to flank Lopez, then they can challenge for a return to the NBA Playoffs.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley and Atlanta Hawks forward Al Horford are free agents after the season. If the Brooklyn Nets were to somehow sign both of them, then that would be considered quite the coup.

[Featured Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images]