3 potential big man options for the Brooklyn Nets

2. Mason Plumlee

The former Brooklyn Nets 2013 draft selection is a bit tricker to obtain. However, Plumlee is an interesting prospect for Nets, fitting the prototypical “lobs and blocks” DNA of a player. Since leaving Brooklyn back on draft night in 2015 in exchange for Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Plumlee has played for both the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets, where he did quite well.

Before being traded to the Nuggets during the 2016-17 season, Plumlee started at center in all 54 games played and averaged 11.1 points and 8.0 rebounds in 28.1 minutes per game with a field goal percentage of 53.2.

So, what’s the catch with Mason Plumlee? For starters, he’s a restricted free agent after the Nuggets tendered a qualifying offer back in June for $4.59 million.

The now 27-year-old may be looking for that “entering his prime” pay-day, but Plumlee is a pretty known commodity. Do the Nets want Jarrett Allen to mold into a more expansive Plumlee, being a force in the passing lanes, in the paint and running out in transition alongside D’Angelo Russell? Perhaps.

For the Nuggets, their frontcourt is pretty jammed after signing Paul Millsap and committing to the likes of Kenneth Faried, Trey Lyles, Juan Hernangomez and star center Nikola Jokic.

If the Nuggets need that $4.6 million in room, they’d renounce his rights. But, for now, Mason Plumlee seems to be headed back to Denver, unless a team commits the likes of $10+ million annually for his services.

Do they Nets want to go there considering they’d have to free up additional space after their cap commitments to DeMarre Carroll, newly acquired small-forward Allen Crabbe, and an impending restricted free agent of their own in D’Angelo Russell come 2019?

All questions I’m sure Sean Marks and his front office are asking themselves now.