Woj believes Nets "committed to try to keep Lopez"

In his latest chat with Joe and Evan on WFAN, Adrian Wojnarowski says he believes the Nets are "committed to try to keep Brook Lopez" and cites the Nets lack of moves at the deadline, that they could have "turned, walked away from a couple of different deals at the deadline."

"I think the fact that they didn't trade him tells you they would be aggressive," said Woj when asked if the Nets would pursue the 7-footer who turned 27 Wednesday. "I think if they felt they weren't going to commit to him financially long term, I think they would have moved him. And because they know they are at the risk of losing him, if he opts out and can walk, that tells me the Nets are committed to trying to keep him ... they that turned, walked away from a couple of different deals at the deadline."

Of course as Woj himself reported on February 19, the Nets were within minutes of dealing Lopez to Oklahoma City for Reggie Jackson and Kendrick Perkins.  There were other proposed salary dumps that the Nets did turn down.Woj put the price of retaining Lopez at between $13 and $14 million per year in a multi-year deal, saying "it's what I've been told."

Woj also suggested that the Nets may not be done with their roster. Although they have 15 players under contract, including the recent addition of Earl Clark as a 10-day contract, a number of Nets are on vets minimum deals. he compared the Nets playoff picture to that of the Celtics.

"With the Nets, maybe you'll see some personnel moves down the stretch in Brooklyn, that will allow them to get in," he said. " Versus Boston, (where) you wonder maybe guys are asked to sit out with injuries aor they try to be overcautious with different things down the stretch that maybe they don't want to get in as much."

While Woj expressed optimism about the Nets making the playoffs, he did not think they could "scare" their first round opponent, but offered a caveat.

"I do not. I do not. I haven't seen them put it together over an extended enough period. Now, if they continue at this clip right through the end of the season, you might feel differently going into the playoffs but two weeks of playing at a fairly high level is not enough in a series against elite teams like Atlanta or Cleveland ... I don't see the Nets or the Celtics, if they get in, being real competitive against either Atlanta or Cleveland."

Here's the transcipt of his thoughts on the Nets.

On possible personnel moves:

"With the Nets, maybe you'll see some personnel moves down the stretch in Brooklyn that will allow them to get in versus Boston, you wonder maybe guys are asked to sit out with injuries aor they try to be overcautious with different things down the stretch that maybe they don't want to get in as much. Boston did not expect to be in this position."

On whether they could "scare" a first round opponent and take them the to a seventh game:

"I do not. I do not. I haven't seen them put it together over an extended enough period. Now, if they continue at this clip right through the end of the season, you might feel differently going into the playoffs but two weeks of playing at a fairly high level is not enough in a series against elite teams like Atlanta or Cleveland. ... I dont see the Nets or the Celtics, if they get in, being real competitive against eitehr Atlanta or Cleveland."

On Lopez's free agency...

"The interesting thing for Lopez if he wait till 2016, he'd be one of those players who'd be able to get a no-trade clause in his deal, I believe. and that might be important to him. I dont know how much of a priority that is. To have some degree of control, considering how much he's been involved in trade talks and how close he's come several times to being moved.

"The decision for him and his agents this summer is do we do a get-some-security If he opts in for next year, he'd get $16.7 milion, what i've been told is that his extension number might be in that $13 - $14 million range if he's healthy and continues to check out medically. His production's been excellent this year. He could sign an extension this year, with the Nets or elsewhere or he could roll the dice and go and play more year and  go into free ageency next year (2016). It's a decision that needs to be made. I know it hasn't been fully addressed yet."

"I think the fact that they didn't trade him tells you they would be aggressive. I think if they felt they weren't going to commit to him financially long term, I think they would have moved him. And because they know they are at the risk of losing him, if he opts out and can walk, that tells me the Nets are committed to trying to keep him based on the fact they that turned, walked away from a couple of different deals at the deadline."

• Adrian Wojnarowski Interview (Audio) - Joe Benigno & Evan Roberts - WFAN