Brook Lopez: 'I'm not asking to be traded'

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Brook Lopez has heard his name come up in trade discussions all season, and that didn't stop leading up to Thursday's trade deadline. 

Months after a reported deal involving the Oklahoma City Thunder and Brooklyn Nets centered around Lopez fell through, the two sides re-engaged in trade discussions and appeared to be closing in on a trade Thursday. The trade would've reportedly sent Lopez to the Thunder for guard Reggie Jackson, who ultimately got moved to the Detroit Pistons as part of a three-team trade involving the Utah Jazz after the Lopez deal fell apart - again. 

But Lopez, who has once again fought through injuries this season and lost his starting job in Brooklyn, is saying all the right things and remaining positive despite having his name continuously pop up in trade chatter. 

"I'm here. I like being here," Lopez said following the deadline, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. "I'm not asking to be traded."

The 26-year-old, under contract for $15.7 million this season with a $16.7-million player option for 2016-17, said he has never considered asking for a trade. There was speculation that any team acquiring Lopez would want him to opt in to his contract for next season, but he said that's not something he was approached about Thursday. 

Lopez, a 2013 All-Star, is averaging 15.3 points and 6.2 rebounds over a career-low 27.1 minutes per game. 

The Nets entered Thursday one game behind the Miami Heat - who revamped their roster with the acquisition of Goran Dragic - for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, with three teams within one game of them for ninth place.