Brooklyn Nets determined to stay close to NBA title contention

Brooklyn Nets determined to stay close to NBA title contention

New York Post Nets beat writer Brian Lewis has a multiple articles up on the Post website from everything from breaking down the wh ifs and the who withs heading into the February 8th trade deadline to the status of Ben Simmons and Brian checks in with us now

Pretty much fresh out of practice uh Brian thanks for joining us uh I guess we’ll start off with the trade deadline can you we get the latest on what the next trade deadline plans are with less than a week to go like what are you hearing ing when it comes to Shawn marks

Possibly making a move well I’m hearing that they’re active and that they’re busy uh many people have asked whether they’re going to be sellers or whether they’re going to be buyers I think there’s a good chance that they’ll be both uh they have three 30 somethings that are all drawing at least varying

Degrees of Interest around the league Spencer dwy Dorian fny Smith and Royce O’Neal uh I would be surprised if all three of them are still here by Thursday my suspicion is at least one if not more will be moved uh and all three have different suitors have teams that are

Interested in them the Lakers seem to be a good fit um as far as incoming players well that’s a different story and that depends on what kind of level of players you’re looking at I think their interest is still genuine in dejonte Murray but that might end up being a

Bridge too far because right now Atlanta is looking for two first round draft picks and Brooklyn has no interest in giving up two first round draft picks um that’s where we get back Circle back to the Lakers who by the way are interested in all three of those players um

D’Angelo Russell seems a Sal fit you could theoretically see him coming back for a reunion in Brooklyn that’s certainly not a guarantee but that’s just a possibility if they can’t get to jont Murray that you could end up seeing them bring D’Angelo Russell back to Brooklyn for a second stin those are all

Some of the things that are in place some of the balls that right now Shawn marks is trying to juggle when you mentioned those three players that could be likely moved does that mean that Shan Marx is kind of not giving up on the season but just playing chess in terms

Of playing a longer game well I I they don’t have any intention of giving up on the season I know that there is a loud sub segment of their fan base that would love to see them tear down and rebuild from scratch right to go the OKC route that is not

Something that they have any interest in doing that’s why they have essentially rejected all offers for Mel Bridges they were offered four first round draft picks for Mel Bridges uh that was last year at the deadline he is only gotten more valuable in their eyes since

Then um it’s not a situation where they have any interest in moving it that includes uh in a deal going to Houston to get back the remainder of their draft assets that they gave up to get James Harden that’s also something that they’ve rejected so I wouldn’t say that he’s

Giving up on the season because if he were he could get a winfall for Mel Bridges you trade Bridges and you trade Cam and that cam Johnson and that completely changes the complexion of the team that is not something that they have any interest in doing they are

Going to try to build around those guys but but when you have a bunch of 26 27 year olds and some younger 22 year olds and then three 30 year RS those 30e olds don’t exactly fit the timeline I think that’s more what this is about is having

Pieces that don’t fit your timeline that have value Dorian finy Smith is that’s two first round draft picks that they rejected at last year’s trade deadline for him Royce O’Neal that could be another first round pick or the equivalent level of player that’s three picks and then Spencer is worth whatever

Spencer is worth on the open market I think this is more about playing as you say the long game than it is about punting on the season so when you talk about Mel Bridges so there’s no way that he’s leaving Brooklyn basically what you’re saying I mean I wouldn’t say no way I

Mean obviously if somebody wants to come you know offering Luca or offering yanis or joic I mean yeah there there’s you know there’s there’s always a way there is always a value for any player whatever that player is um what I’m saying is the people that want to see

This team tear it down to the studs and feel that the only path to success or the overwhelmingly most likely have to success is a complete tank job those people probably will be disappointed I am saying the odds of male Bridges being moved for anything that’s any offer that’s remotely likely to

Come probably won’t happen they don’t want to trade him they’re not looking to trade him they’re not itching to trade him and they are not endeavoring to trade that just blew the steam out of a lot of Nicks fans sales just now because obviously Mel Bridges to the Knicks was

Been the Hot Topic on all the podcast and and everyone’s been talking about so now that’s we can kind of put that to bed uh at least for now uh Ben Simmons can you give us an update on his health will he be back on the court anytime soon with that left knee

Contusion yeah would appear that both uh Ben and Brooklyn dodged a bullet uh anytime Ben Simmons is listed on the injury report or even comes up gimpy it’s very understandable why net fans get worried when you consider how much time he has missed um but we reported last night that Ben Simmons was

Expected to play uh the injury was minor uh he had some swelling but didn’t get any he didn’t neede to get the knee drained he took some anti-inflammatories which have kicked in um and that he was prepared to work out and was expected to play we reported

All that last night and discounting the medical aspects of that Jac vaugh essentially confirmed all of that today at practice that Ben was a limited participant in practice and that they would hope and expect that he would play in Philadelphia tomorrow which of course Ben going back to Philly is an entirely different

Storyline never a dull day when it comes to the Brooklyn Nets uh Brian Le will be coming back to you for sure especially with the trade deadline coming up thanks for joining us well no worries thanks for having me

The Post’s Nets beat writer Brian Lewis joins New York Post Sports anchor Brandon London to discuss how Brooklyn is likely to approach the NBA trade deadline and why the team has been reluctant to entertain offers for Mikal Bridges, the main piece they received in last year’s move that sent Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns.

Check out Brian’s article: https://nypost.com/2024/02/01/sports/the-speculation-surrounding-nets-as-nba-trade-deadline-nears/

#nba #basketball #nets #brooklynnets #mikalbridges #nbatradedeadline #nypostsports

Subscribe and don’t miss out on all the key news, highlights, and interviews about the Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, Knicks, Nets, Rangers, Devils, Islanders and what’s buzzing in the sports world too!

Catch the latest news here: https://nypost.com/sports/
Follow The New York Post Sports on:
Twitter – https://twitter.com/nypostsports
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/nypostsports/