NBA Trade Rumors: Brooklyn Nets Kris Humphries For Charlotte Bobcats Ben Gordon, Involved In Possible Deals?

By Greg Price | February 08 2013 7:57 PM

Perhaps looking to shore up an underperforming and under-scoring backcourt, the Brooklyn Nets are starting to make calls around the league.

Reuters

Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams (L) is having one of the worst seasons of his career. As a result the Nets are reportedly seeking a trade for Charlotte shooting guard Ben Gordon.

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Brooklyn has reportedly reached out to the Charlotte Bobcats regarding smooth-shooting guard Ben Gordon, in exchange for forward Kris Humphries, according to ESPN. No deal is imminent, as these are just preliminary talks.

To start the season, the Nets were thought to have one of the best veteran backcourts in the league with Deron Williams at the point, and Joe Johnson firing away at shooting guard.

However, both are in the midst of down seasons. Williams is netting 16.7 points per game, his lowest since his second year in the league, while Johnson is shooting 42 percent from the field, a poor mark he hasn’t hit since his time with the Phoenix Suns in 2003.

After consecutive seasons averaging a double-double, Humphries is putting up just six points and 6.4 rebounds, but with limited minutes. Still, ESPN’s report suggests Brooklyn will rely on forward Reggie Evans if Humphries is shipped out.

Gordon, third in scoring on the Bobcats, has shot better than 40 percent from the three-point line over the last three seasons, a skill the Nets severely need. For his career, Gordon has averaged 16.3 points and 40.6 percent from beyond the arc.

Brooklyn is currently 19th in the NBA in three-point percentage and must contend with the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and Atlanta Hawks, all ranked in the top five in three-point shooting, in order to make a run in the East.

No other players have to be involved in the alleged deal, with Gordon and Humphries earning $12 million this season, though Gordon holds a $13.2 million player option for next year. The Nets are already responsible for the highest luxury tax bill in the league for the 2013-14 season.

With a record of 29-20 and the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, Brooklyn may use Gordon as the team's sixth man.

The Bobcats are still rebuilding, and hold the worst record in the NBA at 11-37. A frontline of center Byron Mullens, power forward Bismack Biyombo, and Humphries, along with rookie small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, should give the Bobcats a stronger interior presence.