Mason Plumlee's stock is high, very high. In fact, Plumlee is playing so well with Team USA that many have speculated whether or not he is the future starting center for the Brooklyn Nets over Brook Lopez. The veteran was lost for the season last year following a foot injury which was a devastating blow to the Nets' championship plans. However, in his absence, Plumlee thrived in his rookie season, leaving many to wonder if he put Lopez's future in doubt.
According to Brooklyn Nets head coach Lionel Hollins, the team has big plans for Lopez and none of them include trading him no matter how well Plumlee is playing. The coach stressed that the center is rehabbing very well and will be healthy come the start of the year. This has Hollins pretty excited knowing the talent Lopez possesses when on the court.
"I'm gonna utilize Brook in a way that fits Brook. Like I said, he's a very talented kid, skilled kid, and he'll be a very talented piece of what we're trying to do offensively, but I want him to be a big part of what we're trying to do defensively as well," Hollins said, via ESPN.com.
However, there will be a slight issue of spacing when Lopez returns to the court. Hollins will have to figure out who to utilize Lopez, Plumlee and Kevin Garnett on the court considering there is a position overlap. Hollins likes to play two bigs on the court. Fans can look towards his Memphis days when Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol played side-by-side. That would presumably leave Plumlee and Lopez as those two players, but will Garnett accept a sixth-man role? The veteran denied the idea last year. Garnett is expected to return to the team for the final year of his contract and is not likely to be thrilled about a reduced role. Plumlee says he can simply play wherever Hollins puts him.
"I'm definitely comfortable at power forward," Plumlee said, via New York Daily News. "I'm a very good passer; I can see the floor, and I can put the ball on the floor. I don't know what they're looking to do, if they're trying to stay small but what made that work last year was Paul, so I can't imagine we do that again. I think we would play two bigs and how coach Hollins has played traditionally has been that way. I think so (I can play next to Lopez). He demands so much attention, you kind let him be the focal point scoring wise and then you kind of complement him. So it can be a good two-man tandem. Him and Kevin (Garnett), him and me, me and Kevin, however you want to do it."
Lopez is entering the final year of his contract with a player option for 2015. Many NBA sources believe the center will opt out in favor of getting a bigger contract to his name. He needs to take a new contract before another injury occurs. Whether Plumlee starts next season or not, he is certainly poised to take over in 2015.
