The Brooklyn Nets are in the midst of a tough stretch of their 2026-27 NBA season, but after Wednesday's 114-104 win over the Charlotte Hornets, they seem to be heading in the right direction. Brooklyn brought in some veterans to help the team perform better on the team despite being one of the youngest teams in the league, but there could be some decisions to ponder later on.
"If anything, Brooklyn I would still categorize as a team that is in more of a sell situation. I believe that Brooklyn will hope that Julius Randle [and/or] Michael Porter Jr. could still potentially draw some real returns," NBA insider Jake Fischer said (at the 7:26 mark) during a Bleacher Report livestream on Nov. 3. Fischer was asked if the Nets are trading for anyone
and Fischer essentially gave his opinion on where Brooklyn stands in the trade market at this point.
"The Nets also don't have their draft pick this year, and they're looking to be better and and compete in the Eastern Conference and take some strides forward in the East," Fischer continued. "So, I don't think they're going to be a full sell job right now, but I do think that they are still in a position to solicit trade offers for their veterans to get draft capital [and] potentially young pieces back in return."
Coming into this season, Porter was already regarded as a potential trade candidate given that he is likely to be more valuable to a playoff-contending team than a Brooklyn team that is focused on rebuilding. However, with Randle in the fold, there is a possibility that the Nets could be less willing to trade either veteran, assuming that the offers opposing teams make for those players are less than what Brooklyn wants to move off of them.
Porter, 28, is averaging 21.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 46.3% from the field and 38.9% from behind the three-point line. Randle, 32, is averaging 21.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 42.9% from the floor and 34.1% from deep. Despite Porter and Randle playing well for the Nets at this point, whether they will be traded will continue to be a topic of discussion until the February trade deadline passes.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: NBA insider gives take on Nets trade candidates prior to deadline
