Report: Thunder progressing on trade for Brook Lopez

USATSI

UPDATE: Per Adrian Wojnarowski and David Aldridge, the Nets are holding off on the Thunder’s offer, at least for now.

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After a three-team deal involving the Nets, Thunder and Hornets fell apart, talks have kicked up again with a good chance Brook Lopez lands in Oklahoma City by the end of it all.

According to multiple reports, the Thunder and Nets are discussing a deal that would send Kendrick Perkins, Jeremy Lamb (and likely either Perry Jones or Grant Jerrett) to the Nets in exchange for the 7-foot Lopez.

Lopez is making $15.7 million this season, and has a player option for $16.7 million next season. Adding him wouldn’t put the Thunder much deeper into the tax in the present (they’d still be in the first bracket, the under $5 million one), but does make their cap situation a little more tricky next season.

Adding Lopez would seem to guarantee Reggie Jackson isn’t re-signed in the offseason the big man would slot in financially to the void create by passing on Jackson and Perkins’ expiring contract coming off the books.

The big question for this deal: Is Lopez healthy? And can he stay that way? He’s a large man that has dealt with a number of foot injuries, including two surgeries in the last three years. He’s been dealing with a back injury this season and the fear is the Thunder just bought into an injury prone center.

But the Thunder have a history of high caution when it comes to this stuff, nixing a deal for Tyson Chandler in 2009 over concerns about a toe issue. And if Lopez is indeed healthy, he’s one of the finest offensive centers in the game. His primary weaknesses are defense and rebounding, but he’s also never had the luxury of playing alongside a player like Serge Ibaka. Some of Lopez’s deficiencies could be covered.

Still: Seems like desperation by the Thunder, right? Not really so, actually. (It’s funny how some want trades to GO FOR IT and then the Thunder start pulling them and people scoff at their panic. Anywho.) Just stop for a moment and consider the trade: Jeremy Lamb, who is deep in the doghouse and unlikely to ever emerge again, Kendrick Perkins, who while still a valuable defensive big and locker room leader, is 30 years old and watching his skills rapidly diminish, and Perry Jones/Grant Jerrett, two players not exactly full of usefulness, at least not in present times. The other deal was Dion Waiters for Lance Thomas and a pick they probably don’t need.

The difference this season for the Thunder is that their current record enables Presti to be more aggressive. In seasons past, the Thunder were something like 28-10 at this point, with the feeling they were in the thick of contention. Any deal ran the risk of shaking up an already good thing.

Now? Now the Thunder can make moves and not necessarily fret the consequences. Of course they’re trying to improve to make a playoff push this season, but there’s a future element here as well. They want to be positioned as well as possible to be good next season, when things really start to count.

Things are heating up. Stay tuned.