The Sacramento Kings and Brooklyn Nets reportedly discussed a trade recently involving point guard Deron Williams and big man Mason Plumlee. In the theoretical deal, Sacramento would have sent point guard Darren Collison and forwards Derrick Williams and Jason Thompson to Brooklyn. Now, according to ESPN's Chris Broussard, those talks have slowed down, as the Nets are unwilling to move the man the Kings covet, Plumlee:
Sacramento had recently initiated talks with the Nets, proposing a deal for Williams and second-year forward Mason Plumlee, who was actually the Kings' main target, sources said.
With Plumlee struggling and clashing a bit with new Nets coach Lionel Hollins over the first month of the season, the Kings were hoping he might be available. To compel the Nets into moving Plumlee, they considered taking on Williams, whose contract and history of injuries has scared off many clubs.
Brooklyn, however, has no intention of moving Plumlee, who has surged to average 18 points and 10.2 rebounds over the past six games. With no chance of getting Plumlee, the Kings backed away from Williams.
Two things stand out here.
1) We're really at this point with Williams? Jeez. Remember before the regular season started, when he was talking about how he felt rejuvenated? He and the Brooklyn franchise were hoping this would be the year he bounced back from several ankle injuries and reminded people how good he once was. Instead, the reality is that a team like Sacramento "considered taking on" the three-time All-Star, and backed away when the Nets wouldn't include Mason Plumlee. This is not a happy story.
2) Why do the Kings want Plumlee so badly? They employ a man named DeMarcus Cousins, who plays the center position quite well. The two could conceivably play together, but their spacing would suffer. Plumlee is a fine big man -- and, if Sacramento is serious about pushing the pace, he makes sense as a center -- but this seems like a weird fit considering how limited his playing time would have to be.
The discussions aren't totally dead, and the two sides will likely keep talking until the trade deadline, according to ESPN.
