Assessing each team as Dec. 15th expands trade scenarios

Atlantic Division:

Brooklyn Nets:

Players now eligible:  DeAndre’ Bembry, James Johnson, Patty Mills, (Paul Millsap. LaMarcus Aldrige, and Blake Griffin have restrictions on trade).

With Irving out, Patty Mills became arguably the most important offseason trade and isn’t likely going anywhere unless he was part of a package to bring in a much bigger star.

Some might point to Ben Simmons as that option but the Nets can’t afford to lose 3-point shooting for a player who is antsy to shoot at all. The Kyrie for Ben storylines is bound to gain traction in the coming days with various iterations of third and fourth teams being involved.

Notably, the current “Nets believe Irving will return this season” narrative feels like posturing. If Kyrie were going to step up and suddenly join his teammates to help them out now would be the time given seven Nets entered the Health and Safety protocols this week.

If he doesn’t change his mind now and the Nets drop down the rankings while these players are all out how does Irving walk into that locker room later this season and say he’s one of them and wants to be a part of winning? Feels like he has a specific timeline to make a move and my guess is it has to happen this week or not at all.

The Nets have two trade exceptions of $11.5 and $6.3 million that Sean Marks can use in place of matching player salaries.