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The Oklahoma City Thunder are engaged in serious discussions on a trade to acquire Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
The Thunder and Nets are discussing a larger package for the one-time All-Star center that includes guard Jeremy Lamb and center Kendrick Perkins from the Thunder, league sources said. More players need to be included to make the deal fit into the salary framework of a trade.
Talks gained further traction Friday morning after the Nets’ refusal to include Charlotte in a three-way deal that would’ve sent combustible guard Lance Stephenson to Brooklyn, sources said. Oklahoma City and Brooklyn have been talking on and off about a Lopez deal for several weeks, sources said.
The Nets are determined to find a deal for Lopez by the weekend.
After acquiring guard Dion Waiters recently, Oklahoma City is trying to gear up for a run at the Western Conference championship with Lopez. General manager Sam Presti has long been a fan of Lopez, whom the Thunder considered selecting in the 2008 NBA draft at No. 4 overall. Presti chose Russell Westbrook with the pick instead.
There had been discussions on Lopez with Charlotte, Denver and the Los Angeles Lakers, but those didn't gain traction, league sources said.
Brooklyn officials had re-canvassed the league for intel on Stephenson, only to come away with the same conclusions as earlier trade talks this season: For them, he was too big of a risk.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--t ... 34007.htmlThe Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets and Oklahoma City Thunder are involved in discussions about a three-way trade that would send Brooklyn playground legend Lance Stephenson to his hometown team, according to league sources.
Stephenson, who has been a poor fit since signing in Charlotte this past summer, would join the Nets, while Brooklyn center Brook Lopez would be moved to Oklahoma City. Charlotte would receive Jarrett Jack from Brooklyn and Jeremy Lamb from Oklahoma City, sources said.
Other pieces might be included to make the deal work financially.
The Hornets, who have been trying to move Stephenson for more than a month, want to make the deal, but Brooklyn and Oklahoma City have yet to agree, according to sources.
The Nets also have had trade talks with the Miami Heat.
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Re: proposed three-team trade talk reported by ESPN between Brooklyn, Charlotte & OKC (Brook Lopez to OKC, Jarrett Jack and Jeremy Lamb to Charlotte, Lance Stephenson to Nets): nothing imminent. Nets have many potential deals on the table and haven't made any decisions on which way they'll go.
Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti clearly knows this much as the Feb. 19 trade deadline nears: It's time to ramp up his roster.
A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed that the Thunder, Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets are discussing a deal that would send Nets center Brook Lopez to the Thunder, Hornets guard Lance Stephenson to his hometown Nets and the Thunder's Jeremy Lamb and the Nets' Jarrett Jack to the Hornets.
If the deal remains in its current form, the person told USA TODAY Sports that Thunder center Kendrick Perkins likely would go to the Nets as well. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of trade talks.
None of the teams have committed to doing the deal as they are in the process of analyzing the deal internally. Yet while the Nets and Hornets are battling for playoff position in the mediocre Eastern Conference, the Thunder are not only in danger of losing their unofficial status as a title contender, but also at risk of missing the playoffs entirely. After winning seven games in a row in December, the Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook-led Thunder lost for the seventh time in the last 13 games on Thursday when they fell 112-101 to former Thunder star James Harden and his Houston Rockets.
Presti has already been active, landing former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters in a recent deal that cost him a first-round pick and a non-rotation player in Lance Thomas. Lopez could add a dynamic scorer in the post the likes of which they have never had. While his production and playing time are down in his first season under coach Lionel Hollins (26.3 minutes, 14.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game), Lopez averaged 19.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks a game over the previous five seasons while battling numerous injuries. ESPN.com first reported the three-team trade talks.
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