Nets Should Be in Desperation Mode

The NBA Trade Deadline is just 12 days away.  Rumors have been circulating around several players with the big name being the best center in the NBA, Dwight Howard.  The soon to be Brooklyn Nets are sitting in a tough situation right now.  Their star point guard Deron Williams will be a free agent this summer.  The only way Williams stays as a Net is if GM Billy King can bring in another star such as Howard.  Besides Williams, currently the Nets have one of the worst rosters in the league as their 11-26 record shows.  The Nets have got to be in desperation mode as the trade deadline is under two weeks away.

The Nets have the possibility of losing out on the chance at Williams and Howard if King and company do not become aggressive in the chase for the star center Howard.  The Nets do have a shot this summer as well at Howard as he becomes a free agent, but many teams are going to be in the market for the superstar who is averaging an astounding 20 points and 15 rebounds a game. 

The Nets got their center, Brook Lopez back just in time from injury to audition him for a trade.  The Nets have the pieces to move to get Howard.  The question is if they want to pull the trigger and if the Magic would be willing to deal Howard before free agency.  The trade package would most likely build around Lopez and possibly rookie Marshon Brooks who has had a surprising and overlooked rookie season.  The Nets have one of the better deals that could be put in place for "D12" as Lopez is still young and continuing to get better and Brooks is just a rookie.  

If the Nets want to sell tickets and bring in new fans into their new Brooklyn arena next season, they are going to need to get in the driver's seat and make a push for Howard.  If they can get a deal done before the March 15th deadline, they would sign Howard to an extension and most likely be able to sign Williams to an extension as well.

The Nets could possibly have one of the best point guards and the best center in the same lineup opening up the Barclays Center this fall.  That would not be a bad way to start off the franchise in their new dwellings.  If the Nets cannot trade for Howard in these next 12 days, their last hope would be to sign him as a free agent this summer.  As we all know from the past (cough cough Lebron James), that is not always the best option.