Rumors yes, moves no for Brooklyn Nets

With the NBA Draft two days away, there was a smattering of rumors about the Brooklyn Nets Monday, but no moves … at least that we know about.

The main rumor and it’s a recurring one is that the Nets may be interested in moving Day’Ron Sharpe, their 22-year-old big man, to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Mike Scotto, writing for Hoopshype, noted the Grizzlies interest in Sharpe as part of his mock draft, suggesting Memphis might be interested in moving the ninth pick in the 2024 Draft:

The Grizzlies expressed exploratory interest in trading for Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe at the trade deadline this past season and have now circled back again, league sources told HoopsHype.

He also noted Grizzlies’ interest in another Nets big,

It’s worth noting the Grizzlies have also been fans of Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith since he was acquired by Brooklyn and previously made attempts to trade for him.

It’s the second time in a week that the 6’10” Sharpe has been mentioned as a possible Grizzlies target. Last week, Matt Moore, the veteran NBA reporter who writes for Hardwood Paroxysm and Action Network also offered some details, usually a telltale sign of interest, on a potential trade of Sharpe to the Grizzlies for a “one of their bench wings” and a second rounder.

So who might be “one of their bench wings?” Moore did not say, but the Grizzlies have a slew of them available including…

• Vince Williams Jr. the 23-year-old who filled in ably for the Grizzlies’ various fallen last season and is still on his rookie contract;
• Luke Kennard, the 27-year-old sharpshooter who was among those who fell last season but has an expiring $17.4 contract, ideal for big trades.
• Jake LaRavia, who’s 22 and was playing well when he too went down.
• LaMar Stevens, a defensive playmaker and versatile veteran of several NBA clubs.

Speculation in league circles is that Williams is too high a price to pay but that the 6’7″ LaRavia might make more sense, at least for the Grizzlies. Memphis currently holds the 39th and 57th pick in what is seen as a mediocre draft. The Nets also hold three future Grizzlies’ second rounders from the trade that sent Royce O’Neale to Phoenix at the deadline.

Finney-Smith of course has been rumored as a trade piece as soon as he was traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the Nets in the Kyrie Irving trade a year and a half ago. The 31-year-old has a year at $14.9 million plus a player option at $15.4 million on his deal.

Meanwhile, Kevin O’Connor and Zach Karam of The Ringer, in their mock draft, suggested that Brooklyn might surprise people and go star-hunting.

(W)hile Mikal Bridges is an excellent two-way role player and Cam Thomas can score in bursts, the Nets don’t have a clear no. 1 option on offense.

Without a pick, of course, the Nets won’t be able to find that player in the 2024 draft, unless they wave the white flag and ship out Bridges for picks. But don’t be shocked if Brooklyn goes the other way and pokes around on the star trade market this summer, using its collection of veteran salaries—Ben Simmons’s expiring deal, anyone?—and future firsts from Phoenix, Philadelphia, and Dallas to try to acquire a difference maker. Without that sort of blockbuster, fans will have no incentive to be excited about the 2024-25 Nets.

Shipping out Bridges at this point seems even less likely than it was at the deadline when according to Adrian Wojnarowski the Nets were offered but turned down “four and five first round picks” for the 27-year-old. His contract, universally valued as one of the NBA’s best, is closer to its end and Bridges game dropped off as well post-deadline.

Meanwhile, Shams Charania reported that Keita Bates-Diop, the 6’8″ forward acquired in the O’Neale trade has opted in to the remaining year of his deal at $2.65 million. KBD was fully expected to exercise the option. For the Nets, at least at this point, he’s more of a trade piece at 28 than a building block.

And there’s no news on the status of Nic Claxton either. The Nets exclusive rights to negotiate with the 25-year-old expire on Saturday. At that point, he’ll be able to talk with other teams.