NBA rumors: Nets looking to move wings for first-round picks

The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly looking to trade wings Royce O’Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith for first-round picks. Can they actually do it?

In the wake of the midseason Kevin Durant trade, the Brooklyn Nets reportedly aren’t done trying to make moves this offseason.

According to ESPN’s Zach Lowe and numerous other reports, the Nets are looking for a trade return of “a real first-round pick” for two of their wings, Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale. Brooklyn is eyeing a pick for each player in any deal, per these reports.

Those are clearly high expectations on the part of the Nets. Finney-Smith has a better chance of fetching Brooklyn a first-round pick due to the fact that his long-term contract is more affordable for any trade partner. A small-market team could be in on that.

O’Neale, meanwhile, is also objectively the worse player between the two and also will be in the final year of his contract. His value is more likely to be in the range of future second-round picks than getting the Nets a first-rounder. Trading up a few spots in the draft could also be an option, even if that’s not what the reports suggest Brooklyn wants.

NBA Rumors: Perfect Nets trade partners for O’Neale, Finney-Smith

The Indiana Pacers make a ton of sense to work with the Nets. They have reportedly shown interest in trading for Dorian Finney Smith. The team is looking for a wing that could help going forward. While the pick could be near the end of the first round, the Pacers just made a trade where they were able to get a first-round pick.

Indiana has a young core and plenty of picks to move around. They are certainly a team to watch when it comes to what the Nets are searching for.

The Pacers already have a young core of Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, Bennedict Mathurin, and Myles Turner. Adding a wing would help this team make a push for the playoffs. If things go right, they could even avoid the play-in altogether and make the playoffs as a top-six seed next season.