Report: Nets looking to trade Plumlee, move up in draft

How quickly things change.

A year ago, Mason Plumlee appeared to be one of the few legitimate, future-building assets the Brooklyn Nets possessed.

After a solid yet unspectacular sophomore season that saw Plumlee's minutes regress down the stretch, the Nets are reportedly trying to trade the young big man in hopes of moving up in the draft, according to the New York Daily News' Stefan Bondy.

Despite finishing six games below .500, the Nets aren't slotted to make a selection until the second-last pick of the first round, as the 60-win Atlanta Hawks held the right to swap picks (29 for 15) with Brooklyn - a clause stemming from the Nets' 2012 acquisition of Joe Johnson.

The Nets, whose 2015 salary cap flexibility is dependent upon starters Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young - Lopez has a $16.7 million player option, while Young has a $10.2 million option - don't own their own first round pick until 2019.

On one hand, then, it's understandable why the team would be exploring all avenues to move up in the Draft and add to their thin collection of assets. On the other hand, barring a shocking and unrealistic jump to the top-third of the first round, it's unlikely the Nets could draft a player as good as Plumlee anyway.

The 25-year-old has averaged about eight points and five rebounds in roughly 20 minutes per game through two seasons, and his offensive range is extremely limited - 33.7 percent career shooter outside of three feet - but he's a mobile big man who can clean the glass, get out in transition, make a play with the ball, and finish efficiently inside.

He's also only two years into a team-friendly rookie scale contract. The Nets will be hard-pressed to find equal ability and value in this year's first round.