Fansided

NBA offseason trade targets divided by tiers

By Bryan Toporek

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 21: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers drives against Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on March 21, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 21: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers drives against Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on March 21, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 08: Taurean Prince #2 of the Brooklyn Nets is congratulated by his teammate Caris LeVert #22 after scoring a basket with 16 seconds remaining against the Chicago Bulls in the second half at Barclays Center on March 08, 2020 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 08: Taurean Prince #2 of the Brooklyn Nets is congratulated by his teammate Caris LeVert #22 after scoring a basket with 16 seconds remaining against the Chicago Bulls in the second half at Barclays Center on March 08, 2020 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

TIER: The Brooklyn Nets’ wild cards

Caris LeVert

Jarrett Allen

Spencer Dinwiddie

Taurean Prince

Even though they signed Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in free agency last summer, the Brooklyn Nets may not be done star-hunting.

“I believe they have telegraphed they intend to use some of their young talent to acquire a third star along with Kyrie and Durant,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on the Hoop Collective podcast back in March (via RealGM). “… My feel reading the tea leaves, paying attention to what [general manager] Sean Marks has said and also being aware of some conversations they had at the trade deadline, which was sticking the toe in the water on some things, I think they’re going to swing for the fences whenever the season comes.”

According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, the Nets have “internally discussed avenues of acquiring Wizards guard Bradley Beal.” New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday also figures to be high upon their wish list, and Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton could be a dark horse in that conversation, as Forbes Sports’ Morten Jensen recently wrote.

If the Nets do go after a third star, it will almost certainly cost them some combination of Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, Spencer Dinwiddie and Taurean Prince.

LeVert is heading into the first season of a three-year, $52.5 million contract that will be an outright steal if he can stay healthy. Dinwiddie is owed only $11.4 million next season, and he has a $12.3 million player option in 2021-22 that he’s all but certain to decline. Both would be a welcome addition to any roster, whether rebuilding or contending.

Allen is heading into the final year of his rookie contract, which means he’ll be eligible for an extension this offseason. The 22-year-old has to compete with DeAndre Jordan for minutes in Brooklyn, but the upside he’s displayed should make him an enticing trade target for any team that’s willing to part ways with a star.

Prince signed a two-year, $25.25 million extension last October, but he’d largely be included in a star trade for salary-matching purposes. He shot a career-low 37.6 percent from the field this past season and lacks the high ceiling that LeVert, Dinwiddie and Allen possess.

If the Nets aren’t content to run their roster back next season and see how they mesh with Irving and Durant, they have the right combination of young talent and reasonable contracts to go swinging on the trade market.

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