If there is a team that has gone surprisingly silent in the days now leading up to the NBA trade deadline, it is the Brooklyn Nets. There has been plenty of chatter in the months leading up to this week about Nets players, especially Michael Porter Jr., the star forward who is having a breakout year as a No. 1 option. The Nets were roundly criticized for getting only one first-round pick (in 2032) from the Nuggets in the deal for Cam Johnson last summer.
But Porter has played so well that the Nets are sure to get another first-rounder–and maybe more. That’s also exactly why they’re not all that active here at the deadline.
The Nets have assets, and it is possible they could move some, including Porter, center Nicolas Claxton, wings Terance Mann or Cam Thomas and big man Day’Ron Sharpe. Several teams have inquired with the Nets about trading for Porter–the Lakers, Pistons and Warriors were among them, earlier–but they’re not in a hurry to do so.
The Pacers are a team interested in Claxton and/or Sharpe.
“The Nets would be perfectly fine letting this trade deadline go with Porter still on the roster and seeing if they can get two first-rounders next summer,” one Eastern Conference GM said. “They can be patient. They’re bad with him (12-34) so it is not like they need to trade him to tank. Everything else is just collecting assets, using their cap space to fill a spot and take on a pick.”
NBA Trade Rumors: Giannis Antetokounmpo Landing Spot
The one big exception for the Nets is the big exception for everyone on the NBA trade rumor market, of course: Giannis Antetokounmpo. There is a scurry on to make trade offers for the Bucks star, now that Milwaukee is willing to trade him, but there’s also a concern among teams that the Bucks will put off the process until this summer.
They would choose to do that for the same reason that the Nets would wait on Porter–it gives teams a chance to reset their draft picks and their books, and thus have a chance to make better offers. Of course, teams looking to trade for Antetokounmpo want clarity sooner rather than later, to set their 2026-27 aprons and hard caps.
Oh, and to work out their own books going forward, too. The team that trades for Antetokounmpo will need to know what his intentions are going forward, as he is signed for 2026-27 with an option on 2027-28.
The Nets are among the teams in on Antetokounmpo, as well as the Heat, the Knicks and Warriors, with longshot bids coming from Toronto and Minnesota. There are more, of course, but again, Milwaukee could still put it all off until June.
GettyGiannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks
Naji Marshall NBA Trade Rumors, and More
- One player to watch, an NBA exec says, is Naji Marshall of the Mavericks, who has interest not only from the Lakers but also the Knicks, Warriors and Pistons among others. Marshall is having a career year and is in the second season of a three-year, $27 million contract.
“I’d keep an eye on Naji Marshall,” the executive said. “If you’re not making a big swing on Giannis (Antetokounmpo) or someone like that, then he’s a guy who makes sense. He can play a few positions, he can guard a few positions, he can make shots. He’s one of those role stars. And Dallas would move him. They’re asking for a first-round pick but that might come down or maybe you decide to pay it. But if you’re a contender, he’s a good place to look.”
- The Celtics might end up selling off Chris Boucher at the trade deadline, but may not get much else done. They do not want to sacrifice first-round picks, and they do not want to take on additional salary, which has always put rumors about Boston getting a starting-caliber big man on thin ice.
- The Pacers are gathering up offers on Bennedict Mathurin and hoping to wring a first-round pick for him. Mathurin is heading into restricted free agency, and the Pacers are hoping to cash out on him before having to deal with that process. He’s averaging 17.6 points and shooting 37.9% from the 3-point line this year.
- The Bulls are simultaneously sellers and buyers at the deadline. They picked up two second-round picks in the Cavs-Kings trade but would be opening to add. They’d like to move Nikola Vucevic and Coby White in the next week, but are not necessarily looking for just draft picks in return. “They want to get better, they’ve been telling people,” one NBA source said. “Whoever they send out, they want someone who is going to help them now in return.”
NBA Trade Rumors: Teams Still Hoping Nets Shop Star