Trade talks between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets for Brook Lopez stalled earlier in the month, but that doesn't mean a potential deal is off the table. Grantland's Zach Lowe wouldn't be surprised if the Thunder try to trade for Lopez again before the Feb. 19 deadline.
Oklahoma City failed to acquire Lopez earlier in the month, but at least one NBA insider believes the Thunder will try again.
"The Thunder under Sam Presti have long had an affection for Lopez; one former Thunder official revealed to me two years ago that the franchise thought seriously about drafting Lopez over Russell Westbrook in 2008," Lowe wrote Wednesday. "The Thunder were on the verge of acquiring Lopez at a super-cheap price - something like Jeremy Lamb, Grant Jerrett, and Kendrick Perkins's expiring contract - until the Nets wisely pulled back to further test the market. I'd expect the Thunder to inquire on Lopez again soon."
Oklahoma City has competition for Lopez. The Miami Heat and the Houston Rockets were both reported as being interested in trading for Lopez, who's eligible to become a free agent in the summer. Although any team who picks up Lopez risks him opting out of his contract after the season, Lowe reported most NBA executives believe Lopez will exercise his player option for $16.7 million.
If the Thunder - a team not known for being big spenders - were able to trade for Lopez and he used his player option in the summer, Presti would lose a great deal of financial flexibility.
"Adding that to the Thunder's books would take their payroll into the $85 million range for next season, about $4 million above the projected tax," Lowe wrote. "That doesn't include any salary for Jackson, a restricted free agent this summer. Any deal for a Lopezian salary in 2015-16 would likely clinch Jackson's departure from Oklahoma City - if that ship hasn't already sailed."
