The Brooklyn Nets and the Oklahoma City Thunder reportedly are still discussing a possible trade for Brook Lopez. Another report indicated the Nets were "aggressively" trying to move Lopez before the deadline on Thursday.
It's no secret by now that Oklahoma City wants Lopez. Despite at least two purported failed trade attempts, all signs point to the Thunder as still being in pursuit of the Nets' center.
"Tonight, an executive told me Thunder and Nets are most aggressive teams in trade talks. They want to deal, and may trade with each other," Basketball Insiders' Alex Kennedy tweeted on Sunday.
Yahoo Sports' Marc J. Spears also reported the Thunder still want Lopez and that the Nets are "aggressively" trying to move him.
"The Thunder may still try to find a way to land Nets center Brook Lopez before Thursday's trade deadline," Spears wrote Monday. "... The Nets are still aggressively trying to move Brook Lopez before the trade deadline, a source told Yahoo Sports. A fire sale could help a future team sale."
Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler reported at least some of his sources believe Brooklyn will ultimately trade Lopez to Oklahoma City after they turn every stone in the days leading up to the trade deadline.
"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 (Thunder general manager) 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."
Other teams linked to Lopez include the Denver Nuggets, the Miami Heat and the Houston Rockets, although the latter two seem less likely to make a trade for him - Miami lacks assets and Houston's priority seems to be trading for Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic.
