Billy King already is looking to make a trade.
That in and of itself isn’t particularly news considering King is the general manager of the Brooklyn Nets. It’s kind of in the job description. But it’s the circumstances surrounding the potential deals that should have both Nets and Boston Celtics fans concerned.
King told reporters Monday that he’s made “exploratory calls” regarding his team, though he doesn’t exactly seem to know what he wants to do.
“We can trade now and eat all that space up, get to 30-something wins and make the playoffs in the eighth spot,” King told reporters, via the New York Post. “(But) then, where’s the future now? So it’s about adding the right pieces and being patient.”
For starters, the future is in Danny Ainge’s hands. Two draft picks (and a third if he wants it) are the Celtics president of basketball operations’ to play with, and the Nets’ 0-7 start has Celtics fans collectively salivating at the high lottery pick that could come in return. But it’s the other tidbit in there that’s concerning.
Do the Nets actually have tradeable assets that could return anything to improve the team? Maybe. If King can swindle someone in a deal for Joe Johnson (and his $24.6 million contract) in the same manner he was swindled in the Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett deal two years ago, it’s certainly not implausible.
One such rumor is already floating and has Johnson and Jarrett Jack headed to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson. That duo could provide an Isaiah Thomas-like spark for Brooklyn, and in a weak Eastern Conference, the eighth seed is always on the horizon.
King went on to remind reporters how long the digging-out process is and that he’s not expecting to jump away from the bottom “overnight.” In other words, King can’t seem to make up his mind.
One way or another, let’s hope he does soon. The future of two franchises depends on it.
Thumbnail photo via Debby Wong/USA TODAY Sports Images
h/t to Yahoo! Sports
