Rumors

Sources say there has been some preliminary conversation between the Cavaliers and Hornets about Ball trade constructions that could furnish Charlotte with second-round draft capital and thus enable the Hornets to pair the elder Ball with his younger brother LaMelo. Charlotte, Brooklyn and Utah, according to league sources, are all teams that have been looking to facilitate multi-team trades or take on unwanted salary in exchange for draft pick compensation.

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Law Murray: The Los Angeles Lakers report that Austin Reaves (calf) is questionable again for Tuesday at Brooklyn. Bronny James (leg) is also questionable. Both did not play at New York. Adou Thiero (MCL) traveled on this road trip but will miss all of the games.

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It’s also unclear if he’ll be an injury replacement for Antetokounmpo on Feb. 15, or if he’ll even be in Brooklyn past Thursday. But more and more, league executives expect Porter to be a Net. Now, will the league see fit to make him an All-Star?

New York Post

Law Murray: JJ Redick says hopefully Lakers will have Austin Reaves for Brooklyn, but he is day-to-day and needs 100 percent confidence in his calf before he plays.

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Tim Bontemps: I think the Nets would make an offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Brian Windhorst: I think there's offers already in. You can aggregate that, there's offers already in. (…) I think Brooklyn will seriously consider making an offer.  

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But after the Nets had rallied from a 19-point deficit to take a 94-92 lead, they coughed up an 8-0 Nuggets run and never recovered. “There was a little motivation,” Michael Porter Jr. said. “We should’ve pulled it out, though. I felt like I missed a couple shots I should’ve made down the stretch.” It was only because of Porter’s big night that the Nets (12-34) were in it down the stretch. Jamal Murray (27 points) hit two free throws to put Brooklyn in a 62-43 hole against a Nuggets team playing sans Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon.

New York Post

Brooklyn has rehabbed Porter’s value enough where it would like value in return for him, league sources said. If the rebuilding Nets wanted a draft pick for Porter but the Bucks wouldn’t include one, they would quickly hit a stalemate.

New York Times

Michael Scotto: There have been teams that called, but if you're Brooklyn, you're going to be asset-driven. So, if you can get draft compensation that you think is worth more than Michael Porter Jr., you've got to do it. But at the same time, they're also trying to take a step forward next season and be better." "Michael Porter Jr. certainly could be a part of that from what I've been told. Also, there's no urgency to move him now. He will be on an expiring contract going into next season. And as you know, expiring contracts, let alone with a guy who's at all-star production, are valuable around the league."

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But eyes should be on Cam Thomas, with every sign pointing toward his time running out in Brooklyn. He’s lost his starting job, seen his playing time reduced, and neither situation seems about to change. After their failed contract negotiations this past summer, forget the honeymoon being over. Every sign is pointing toward divorce. Brad & Angelina. Prince Charles & Lady Di. Now Thomas & the Nets? Most league observers that spoke with The Post see it as a foregone conclusion, whether at the Feb. 5 trade deadline or in the offseason.

New York Post

New York Basketball: "When it happened…my wife & I went to Australia for UFC 312, Brooklyn, Puerto Vallarta, St Barts…I probably shouldn't have said all that 🤣 It's life, you keep moving forward…Life's short" – Mike Brown back in Sacramento where he was fired a year ago

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Finally, let’s talk about one deep dark horse: Brooklyn. With one trusted league source telling me that Michael Porter Jr. is a lock to move by the deadline so the Nets can sell high on his career year, it makes sense for the Nets to figure out who will be the centerpiece of their franchise a year from now. Remember, Brooklyn owes a pick swap to Houston in 2027 and thus has no incentive to tank next season. They need some players.

New York Times

Justin Russo: Tyronn Lue said postgame in Brooklyn tonight that Bogdan Bogdanović is on the court doing workouts and “playing a little” 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 work as he recovers from his hip injury. Lue: “Hopefully it’s sooner than later. We miss his playmaking ability and his shooting ability.”

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Michael A. Scotto: The Brooklyn Nets will fully guarantee the contracts of Jalen Wilson and Tyrese Martin for the rest of the season, league sources told @hoopshype . Wilson has averaged 7.4 points through three seasons with the Nets. Martin has averaged 8.3 points through two seasons with Brooklyn.

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I am told that Trae Young’s camp has suggested Minnesota and Brooklyn, from their side, as two attractive potential destinations. Yet I'm also told that neither the Timberwolves nor the Nets are in pursuit.

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