What players do the Nets have who would interest Portland?
- Mikal Bridges
Any serious conversations between Cronin and Nets’ GM Sean Marks would start with Bridges.
The centerpiece of the Kevin Durant-to-Phoenix deal took a major leap after becoming the No. 1 offensive option in Brooklyn. The fifth-year pro expanded his game from a spot-up shooter to legitimate go-to scorer during his short time with the Nets.
Bridges averaged 26.1 points on 48/38/90 shooting splits after the trade, morphing into one of the league’s best young wings.
- Cam Johnson
Johnson also got a chance to show more of his skill set with the Nets. The 6-foot-8 wing was always a dead-eye shooter, but despite his 3-point percentage taking a dip to 37.5 percent in Brooklyn, he averaged a career-high 16.6 points in 25 games.
Johnson is a restricted free agent.
- Dorian Finney-Smith
DFS developed his shot and turned into a legitimate three-and-D wing with the Dallas Mavericks. At 6-7 and 220 pounds, he’s built like a power forward but has the quickness, athleticism, and length to guard multiple positions. He’s a “wing stopper,” perhaps the most important defensive archetype in today’s league.
Finney-Smith shot less than 32 percent from deep in his first three seasons, but has transformed into a career 36 percent 3-point shooter and hovered just below 40 percent in 2020-21 and 21-22.
- Nic Claxton
Portland is in desperate need of an athletic center to fit coach Chauncey Billups’ scheme, and Claxton is an ideal candidate.
In a breakout 2022-23 season, the 23-year-old averaged 12.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks across 76 games.
- Cam Thomas/Day’Ron Sharpe
Thomas showed off his ability as a scorer with three straight 40-plus point outings in February, but that’s his career highlight to date. At this point, he’s not much more than an occasional bucket-getter.
Sharpe is a 6-9 21-year-old center with a strong frame at 265 pounds. He has some bounce and athleticism to his game.
These two would be throw-in lottery tickets at the back end of any potential deal.