The Oklahoma City Thunder reportedly are being "very aggressive" as the NBA trade deadline approaches. Oklahoma City might decide to up their offer for Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez, while Thunder guard Reggie Jackson still appears likely to be gone before the Feb. 19 deadline passes.
Depending on which reports you read, Oklahoma City came close to acquiring Lopez at least two times this season. Brooklyn obviously rebuffed Oklahoma City's offer, purportedly because they didn't think it was worthwhile, but that doesn't mean Thunder general manager Sam Presti has given up on getting Lopez.
"Oklahoma City remains very active," Basketball Insiders' Alex Kennedy wrote Wednesday. "... Their interest in Brook Lopez is real (Sam Presti has always loved Lopez's game, even dating back to the draft) and it's possible they increase their offer for him as the deadline gets closer."
Lopez's recent on-court resurgence has upped his value in the eyes of Nets general manager Billy King, who's believed to be dangling the 7-footer for the highest offer. Other teams purportedly interested in Lopez include the Denver Nuggets, the Miami Heat and the Houston Rockets.
If King can't drum up a better offer for Lopez, though, Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler reported the Nets would likely go back and accept the Thunder's initial offer.
"Has always been up to Brooklyn. They did not see a lot of value in OKC's offer. I was told by a few people that would likely be the deal that gets done back when the Nets called things off, with insiders thinking Brooklyn comes back after exhausting other options," Kyler wrote Monday. "I don't think you'll see OKC ponying up a ton more. But Sam Presti has always had a thing for Brook Lopez, so if a deal can be made involving basically what they offered - Perkins and Jeremy Lamb, I think OKC does that deal in a heart beat."
While Oklahoma City looks to take Lopez in one deal, they could be sending a few of their players out in other deals, with Jackson the most likely candidate to be dealt.
"I was told that they're open to moving anyone outside of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and Steven Adams for the right offer," Kennedy wrote. "Reggie Jackson could definitely be moved before Feb. 19 and the Thunder are being very aggressive, especially since they are sitting outside of the playoff picture in the West and desperately want to make the postseason."
Teams linked to Jackson include the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers, but neither team really has the assets to make it worthwhile for Presti to deal the soon-to-be restricted free agent.
