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After nine seasons of constant trade rumors, the Brooklyn Nets ultimately traded Brook Lopez and the No. 27 pick (Kyle Kuzma) in the 2017 NBA Draft to the Los Angeles Lakers for Timofey Mozgov and D'Angelo Russell. While the Nets acquired a talented prospect, they now lack depth at the center position.
Along with Mozgov, the Nets selected Jarrett Allen with the No. 22 pick and recently signed Tyler Zeller. With these three centers heading into the 2017-18 NBA season, Allen shares he has not spoken to the team about playing with their G-League affiliate Long Island Nets according to Anthony Puccio of Nets Daily:
Jarrett Allen tells me the Nets haven't discussed playing with the Long Island Nets, their G-League affiliate.
— Anthony Puccio (@APOOCH) September 16, 2017
After having a reliable center in Lopez for seven of his nine seasons with the team, there is uncertainty heading into training camp. While the Lakers signed Mozgov to a four-year, $64 million deal last summer, his production does not meet one of the worst contracts in the league. As a result, Allen may have an opportunity to be a part of head coach Kenny Atkinson's rotation in his rookie season.
It is well-documented the Nets are trying to replenish their assets after losing so much in the Kevin Garnett/Paul Pierce trade in 2013. Instead of trying to sign free agents who would not come, general manager Sean Marks has been patient by trading for young prospects and draft picks at the expense of bad contracts like Mozgov's.
