Nov 21, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Reggie Jackson (15) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Scenario #1
Boston Celtics receives A Future Pick
Brooklyn Nets receives Reggie Jackson, Kendrick Perkins, and Jeremy Lamb
Oklahoma City Thunder receives Brook Lopez and Jameer Nelson
The Celtics are rebuilding and have no use for Nelson, who has found himself inactive for the time being. If the Celtics don’t trade Nelson, they are likely to cut him. At least this way they get something in return.
The Nets are a middle of the pack team in the East relying on a washed-up and often injured Deron Williams at point. The addition of Jackson allows them to decrease Williams’ role and gives them a much more reliable option at point guard. While the Nets are already stocked at shooting guard, the addition of Lamb would allow them to move Sergey Karasev to small forward coming off the bench. Perkins is in this deal so the money works, but the possibility of Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins re-uniting in 2015 and scowling at everyone like it’s 2008 is just a bonus.
The Thunder get a reliable back-up point guard in Nelson, who wants to play a contending team, and a proven center in Lopez, who is already coming off the bench for Brooklyn. While there are health concerns surrounding Lopez, when healthy, he’s a much more valuable player than Perkins. The only concern with this trade is that Lopez has a $16 million player option after this season, which he is likely to pick up unless he’s unhappy coming off the bench.
Next: Scenario No. 2