By now, you have probably heard the Brooklyn Nets are interested in Bradley Beal as they try and find and third star to put alongside of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Of course, Beal is kind of a pie-in-the-sky kind of choice, because there is no indication that the Washington Wizards are even attempting to trade him, and the price would surely be exorbitant.
Plus, I'm not entirely crazy about the idea of Durant, Irving and Beal all having to share one ball.
But what other stars could the Nets potentially pursue?
Here are three non-Beal names Brooklyn should consider trading for:
3. CJ McCollum
CJ McCollum has spent the first seven seasons of his NBA career playing alongside of another ball-dominant guard in Damian Lillard in Portland, and unlike Beal and John Wall in Washington, the two have never clashed.
That doesn't mean McCollum doesn't hold the ball. He does. However, he doesn't come with the same type of cachet that Beal does, so he would almost certainly be more open to sacrificing some shot attempts.
McCollum has a year remaining on his deal at $29.5 million, so the Nets may want to work out some sort of extension with him if they do swing a trade for him. It would stink to potentially lose Jarrett Allen and other pieces for a rental.
But on the court, McCollum's perimeter shooting prowess would make Brooklyn's offense incredible difficult to defend and would open up more driving lanes for Durant and Irving. If the Nets could somehow keep Joe Harris out of the deal, even better.
Of course, the problem is that McCollum isn't much of a defender, and paired alongside of Irving in the backcourt, that could become a rather prominent issue for Brooklyn.
Still, if the Nets are looking for a third option and don't want to splurge for Beal, McCollum is a fine choice.
2. Jrue Holiday
Jrue Holiday is probably one of the more underrated players in the league.
No, he isn't a superstar, but he is a good two-way guard whose phenomenal defense on Lillard played a significant role in the New Orleans Pelicans' first-round playoff victory over the Blazers in 2018.
Also, unlike McCollum, Holiday does not necessarily demand the ball. Yes, he has averaged 19 points per game or better each of the last three seasons, but Holiday is hardly what one would consider ball-dominant.
As a matter of fact, Holiday is at his best when he is creating and facilitating. Remember: he entered the league as a point guard, so distributing the rock is just part of who he is.
On top of that, Holiday would help cover for Irving's deficiencies defensively, possessing the ability to guard multiple positions thanks to his wiry frame and veteran savvy.
The biggest question here is whether or nor the Pelicans would actually want to move Holiday.
He has two years left on his current deal, including a player option for the 2021-22 campaign. He is set to earn $25.4 million next season, which is absolutely manageable for a player of his caliber.
New Orleans also seems rather intent on contending for the playoffs with Zion Williamson right off the bat, so perhaps the Pels would shy away from trading Holiday.
But if the Nets can put a package together that includes something like Allen and Spencer Dinwiddie plus picks, maybe the Pelicans would be willing to pull the trigger.
1. Kevin Love
That brings us to the most interesting name on this list: Kevin Love.
No, Love's name does not carry the same weight as it once did during his days with the Minnesota Timberwolves, but in spite of the fact that he has lost some of his luster, Love remains a good player.
I completely understand his defensive shortcomings, and in a modern NBA where defensive versatility and guarding the pick-and-roll is paramount, that's a problem.
But let's remember that Irving and Love won a championship in Cleveland as a defensive tandem, and in Brooklyn, Durant could play the role of LeBron James.
It just makes too much sense.
In addition, while Love may struggle on the defensive end, offensively, he is exactly what you want in a big man in 2020. He can post, he can shoot and he can pass. He can also get to the free-throw line, and the duo of Love and DeAndre Jordan up front would certainly clean the glass.
The main sticking point about Love, however, is his contract. Thanks to the ill-advised four-year, $120 million extension the Cavaliers handed Love during the summer of 2018, the sharpshooter is set to earn $30 million on average through 2023.
Couple that with the fact that Love will be 32 years old at the start of next season and hasn't played 70 games since 2016, and there is definitely some risk involved, especially when you consider that Durant is coming off of a torn Achilles and Irving is not exactly a beacon of good health, either.
But it's not like the Nets have a ton of other options, and Love certainly isn't ball dominant, so he should fit rather nicely with the other two stars.