Brooklyn Nets Receive: F/C Christian Wood, G/F Eric Gordon, G/F David Nwaba, BKN 2024 2nd Round Pick
Houston Rockets Receive: G/F Ben Simmons, C Nic Claxton
Should the Rockets be interested in pursuing Ben Simmons in the offseason, this would almost definitely mean that they would have to trade Christian Wood.
Houston could offer John Wall in a trade scenario for Simmons, but it is unlikely that the Nets would want to bring in Wall in the final year of his massive contract, as he would greatly limit Brooklyn’s chances of pursuing other key talents in free agency.
Christian Wood was rumored to be available in trade talks leading up to the trade deadline for the Rockets this season, as was veteran Eric Gordon, but Houston decided to hold onto both players, as they were not receiving the right value they had hoped for in trade talks.
Getting Ben Simmons in return, along with a young big man in Nicolas Claxton, could be enough for the Rockets to finally part with some of their key, bigger contract players.
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As for Brooklyn, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving alone can carry the Nets deep into the playoffs, but with Irving’s status to play in New York City being in question moving forward, the best thing this franchise can do for themselves is continue to add versatile talents.
They did so in the James Harden trade, adding the likes of Seth Curry and Andre Drummond for key secondary depth, and the Nets could very much do so again with the additions of Christian Wood in the frontcourt and Eric Gordon on the wing.
The Nets have long been searching for frontcourt help and have been a team in desperate need of a reliable two-way center. Christian Wood could play this role and with Andre Drummond being a free agent in the offseason and expected to receive more than a minimum deal, Wood can be his replacement for one year.
Eric Gordon was a part of numerous championship-contending teams with the Houston Rockets last several years and he still is one of the better secondary talents in the league on the perimeter.
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Ranking amongst the best in the NBA in three-point shooting this season, Gordon would be a perfect complimentary piece for the Nets to have on the wing next to Irving, Curry and others, especially with Joe Harris’ availability moving forward being in question due to two ankle surgeries this season.
Maybe Brooklyn keeps Ben Simmons long-term and their “three-headed monster” of Simmons, Durant and Irving works out, but the idea of leveraging the seven-footer is definitely intriguing, especially in a return like this from Houston.
