2. Brook Lopez (C) – Brooklyn Nets
Slowed by foot injuries over the past few seasons, Lopez is a top-five center when healthy, averaging at least 19 points and six rebounds per game over the previous two seasons, despite his slow start to begin this season (15 points, 4.8 rebounds per game in eight contests). Lopez, 26, is set to earn over $16 million next season in the final year of his contract with the Nets, but management is willing to move him to acquire picks in order to revamp an aging and seemingly declining lineup led by veterans Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Kevin Garnett (all in their 30’s). Lopez may not be the rebounding machine that Faried is, but he can still clean up the paint and form an intimidating twin-tower duo with Bosh.
The Heat already possess a top-10 scoring defense, however, establishing an All-Star frontcourt would frustrate opposing teams who look to penetrate and bang the boards. Lopez’ arrival spells immediate headaches for the rest of the Eastern Conference. The given hurdle in acquiring Lopez would be the Nets’ craving for draft picks and young talents like James Ennis and Shabazz Napier, but that’s the nature of the business when going for better days with an All-Star center.
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