The Brooklyn Nets are finding their groove as they climb up the Eastern Conference standings. They are only one game behind the Philadelphia 76ers for first place in the conference and have looked unstoppable despite Kevin Durant being sidelined with an injury. Now, they could look to make a trade deadline move and Detroit Pistons big man Mason Plumlee.
While they are playing well now, injuries are one thing the team really cannot afford, especially in the frontcourt. Brooklyn is dangerously thin on depth after the blockbuster trade to acquire James Harden from the Houston Rockets.
DeAndre Jordan is the only true center on the roster right now. Jeff Green has been his backup and they signed Blake Griffin, who was bought out by the Detroit Pistons but could use more depth. Could Griffin’s former Pistons teammate be on the way next?
According to James L. Edwards III of the subscription-based, The Athletic, there have been some whispers around the league that the Nets are interested in Pistons’ center, Mason Plumlee. Spencer Dinwiddie, who is recovering from an ACL tear, has been the player discussed as part of a deal.
It would be a homecoming for both players, as Dinwiddie was selected by the Pistons in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft and Plumlee was a first-round pick of the Nets in 2014. This would be an interesting deal for both teams.
The Nets would be motivated to do it because they desperately need some help in the front-court. Plumlee also wouldn’t be a rental, as he is signed through 2023.
The former Duke prouct has proven he can be successful in a role with the second unit, as he performed well for the Denver Nuggets in the same role the last few seasons. While Detroit did just sign him this past offseason, moving Plumlee would open up more minutes for first-round draft pick, Isaiah Stewart.
Detroit would also get a look at Dinwiddie, who has reportedly been someone teams have expressed interest in despite him currently being sidelined. He is a dynamic scoring guard the Pistons could flip at next year’s deadline if he opts into his player option. If he declines it, Detroit has cap space and probably some draft compensation for moving on from Plumlee.
