Brooklyn Nets: 3 players most likely to be traded before deadline

3. Allen Crabbe

After arriving in Brooklyn via trade in the 2017 offseason, Allen Crabbe has been a regular part of the rotation. In the 2017-18 season, he played 29.3 minutes a night while putting up averages of 13.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 3-pointers and 1.6 assists per game. He even started 68 of the 75 games he suited up for.

This season has been a little different. With guards D’Angelo Russell and Spencer Dinwiddie (and Caris LeVert prior to his injury) being focal points of the team, Crabbe has seen a slight reduction in his role. In his 26.1 minutes per game this season, he is averaging a stat line of 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 3-pointers and 1.1 assists per game. Following the loss of LeVert, Crabbe became the starter in his place until suffering a knee injury himself in mid-December.

Crabbe has been playing solid basketball and is expected to be evaluated for his return to action soon. That being said, if he does come back before the deadline, he could likely be dealt. Moving Allen Crabbe could bring back a player with a little more to offer defensively, or possibly bring in another power forward to plug in the rotation.

Financially, shipping him out makes a ton of sense for Brooklyn. Crabbe has an $18.5 million player option available to him for next season that he’s unlikely to decline. Removing that possibility from the Nets’ cap outlook this summer would be a big help in their attempts to sign star players in the coming offseason.