Nets not listening to trade offers for star forward

The Houston Rockets inquired about Bridges, the All-Defensive forward who was the centerpiece of last year's trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns. Houston is in a unique position to trade with the Nets because they control Brooklyn's first-round picks for the next four drafts, owning their first-rounders outright in 2024 and 2026, plus swap rights in 2025 and 2027.

But even though Houston was willing to trade "most" of those picks for Bridges, the Nets made it clear that they have "zero interest" in trading him, considering him a key part of their foundation. Reportedly, Houston never even got to make their pick-heavy trade offer.

That doesn't mean that Brooklyn won't be making any trades, though. Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that the Los Angeles Lakers have shown interest in three different Nets players.

Spencer Dinwiddie and Royce O'Neale are in the final year of their contracts, so they're natural trade candidates for a team like the Nets, who are sitting in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. Dorian Finney-Smith is different. He's started 31 games for Brooklyn this season, playing all three frontcourt positions at various times while shooting over 38% from three-point range. Plus, he is signed for next season, with a player option for 2025-26.

Just because the Lakers want to trade for someone doesn't make that player available, of course. But moving Finney-Smith would be a big sign that the Nets are willing to deal players outside of the core, which would likely include Cameron Johnson, Cam Thomas and their two rookies beyond Bridges.

Bridges isn't going anywhere. But anyone else, including free-agent-to-be Nic Claxton, may be available for the right price.