Report: Nets shot down Nuggets' offer for Brook Lopez
The struggling Brooklyn Nets don't appear motivated to move oft-injured big Brook Lopez without a sufficient return.
Brooklyn reportedly shot down an offer from the Denver Nuggets that would have landed it JaVale McGee, J.J. Hickson and a first-round pick, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.
The framework of that purported deal had been previously reported by Stein, but the inclusion of a first rounder is a new wrinkle to the package. Stein notes that the first-round pick being dangled by Denver is one of two it landed from the Cleveland Cavaliers for Timofey Mozgov.
Multiple teams have reportedly inquired about a number of the Nets' players - including Lopez, who has a $16.7-million player option for the 2015-16 season that he's likely to exercise. But the slumping Nets, who have fallen out of a playoff spot in the weak Eastern Conference, have yet to blowup their high-priced roster.
McGee has been limited to 16 games, and just returned last week from close to a two-month absence. Hickson has largely been deployed off the Nuggets' bench, and is averaging 8.4 points and 6.6 rebounds in 20.3 minutes. Their remaining salaries could be obstacles in the deal, as both are under contract for the 2015-16 season and owed over a combined $17 million.
Lopez, meanwhile, has slowly adjusted to his reserve role with the Nets and is coming off a season-high 35-point performance in an overtime loss to the Toronto Raptors. He's averaging 14.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in his last 20 games, which have largely been off the bench, as Brooklyn has opted to start second-year center Mason Plumlee over the former All-Star.
Brooklyn, which has lost four straight games and 12 of its last 14, hosts the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.