A three-team trade involving Brook Lopez, Kendrick Perkins and Thaddeus Young could be in the works between the Brooklyn Nets, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves. News of the potential deal follows an ESPN report claiming a Nets-Thunder trade including the Charlotte Hornets and guard Lance Stephenson fell through.
Brooklyn and Oklahoma City want to swap Lopez and Perkins, according to a steady stream of reports hitting the Internet since Thursday night. The Nets and the Thunder seem to want to involve a third team in the deal, and according to ESPN's Marc Stein, that third team could be Minnesota.
"Sources say one option that strongly interests Nets, IF Brook L trade goes down, is trying to deal Perk for Thaddeus Young," Stein tweeted Friday. "... ESPN sources say Wolves are willing to move Thaddeus Young as part of ongoing rebuild and Young said to be high on list (of) players (Brooklyn) covets."
Young, whom Minnesota acquired in August, can become a free agent in July via the early-termination option in his contract.
Reports from ESPN and USA Today on Thursday indicated Brooklyn and Oklahoma City were originally engaged in discussions regarding a three-team trade with Charlotte, who would deal Stephenson to the Nets. ESPN's Chris Broussard, though, reported Friday that Charlotte had backed out of the talks.
Broussard also reported the Nets had discussed a possible Lopez trade with the Miami Heat.
The problem with any Lopez trade, though, is his contract. He can opt out in the summer and become a free agent, which likely has some teams hesitant to fork over quality assets for a player who could walk in the summer.
