Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Trade Rumors: Teams That Should Trade For Brook Lopez

By Maxwell Ogden

Nov 2, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) gestures after scoring a three point basket during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) gestures after scoring a three point basket during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Feb 29, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) is defended by Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) during an NBA game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 29, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) is defended by Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) during an NBA game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Honorable Mention: Los Angeles Clippers

This may not be a popular proposition, but the Los Angeles Clippers must accept the reality that DeAndre Jordan hurts the flow of the offense. He’s an elite rebounder, explosive athlete, and plus defender, but his free throw shooting has stunted the Clippers’ offensive growth.

Whenever the Clippers seem to develop a rhythm offensively, elite teams intentionally foul Jordan and obliterate any hope Los Angeles had of going on a game-deciding run.

Trading Jordan for Lopez would be a risky proposition, especially for a team that fought so hard to re-sign him. Lopez is nowhere near the athlete that Jordan is, and his absence of explosiveness could hurt the defense.

The true appeal for Los Angeles is that it could acquire more than just Lopez.

Jordan may be polarizing to fans, but general managers covet him enough to have voted him the No. 1 center in the NBA. Jordan may not even be the type of center whom Sean Marks would prefer, but if he is, then the Clippers could potentially include a third team and land a small forward.

This trade isn’t going to happen, and Los Angeles is likely better off with Jordan, but if Rivers wants to slow things down, Lopez would help him do so.