While many teams are actively shopping players before the approaching trade deadline, the Brooklyn Nets might not be one of them. After losing Brook Lopez for the remainder of the season, there was plenty of speculation about whether or not the Nets would attempt to shop the center. Deron Williams denies the idea.
According to Williams, Brooklyn is not going to be buyers before Feb. 20. The Nets are currently sitting in the seventh in the Eastern Conference at 22-25. While they are in the process of turning their terrible start into a strong finish, Williams does not believe there will be any additions to the roster.
"I don't see us making any moves," Williams said, via the New York Post. "Last time I said that, I think, I got traded. That's the quote for the day."
The Nets might not need to make any adjustments. Andrei Kirilenko says the team's chemistry is the biggest reason for the turnaround as players return from injury. Brooklyn is currently 12-4 in the new calendar year, putting together the NBA's best record in the month of January while head coach Jason Kidd earned coaching honors from the NBA.
One person not sold on the Nets' comeback, Charles Barkley. The current TNT NBA analyst put it simply by saying the Nets "stink". Shaquille O'Neal took a moment to compliment Kidd on his coaching in January, noting the coach is the reason for the tem finally putting together some wins. Barkley does not feel the same way.
"The Nets stink, man," Barkley said, via the New York Post. "They lost their best player in Brook Lopez, Deron Williams has been inconsistent, they're beating up on a bunch of ugly chicks in the Eastern Conference. Don't act like they've got a good team. Stop it. I don't see Brooklyn beating Washington. I don't see them beating Toronto, to be honest with you."
Barkley blamed the injury to Lopez and the inconsistencies with Williams as the reason for what he believes will be the downfall of Brooklyn. Barkley does not believe Williams is the proper player to lead Brooklyn sighting his reoccurring ankle injury as the prime reason.
"The first sign of Father Time is injuries," Barkley said. "You ask Kenny, you ask Shaq, you ask myself, your first 10 years in the league, you never get hurt. You're Superman. When guys start getting hurt, once you hit a certain age you're nicked all the time. They call them nicks. Deron Williams has been hurt a lot the last couple years. He's never going to get back to where he was in Utah. His best days are behind him."