NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 24: Dzanan Musa #13 of the Brooklyn Nets (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
The Brooklyn Nets and Detroit Pistons swapped young guards in a trade today.
The Brooklyn Nets have been eyed as a team that could change the direction of the league, as they are firmly atop Houston Rockets star James Harden’s list of preferred destinations in a trade. Sean Marks did pull off a trade today, but it doesn’t have the same impact a Harden deakl would.
Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that the Nets have agreed to trade wing Dzanan Musa and a 2021 second-round pick to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for guard Bruce Brown.
Dzanan Musa never reached his full potential with the Brooklyn Nets
Musa was picked 29th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, but he only ended up playing in 49 games for Brooklyn, averaging 4.3 points in those games. Musa stands 6-9, but his game is that of a ball-handling guard, making him a bit of a peculiar player. The selection of Rodions Kurucs, a similar player who carved out a role as a small-ball power forward, in the second round of the draft also contributed to Musa’s spare playing time. Hopefully, a rebuilding Detroit team gives him the valuable minutes he needs.
Brown’s versatility will make him quite an intriguing player for Steve Nash to work with. Having started 99 games over the last two seasons, Brown averaged 8.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. A 6-4 guard that plays excellent perimeter defense, shoots from deep at a 34 percent clip, and is comfortable with both handling the ball and distributing, Brown should see time in Nash’s rotation.
The rebuilding Pistons get a 21-year-old that still has tons of untapped potential on the offensive end, while a contending team in Brooklyn adds a quality role player that can fill a variety of roles. This isn’t a Harden trade, but it’s a nice way to kick off the offseason.