Mason Plumlee to Trail Blazers in 4-Player Trade: Latest Details and Reaction | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

In December, the Nets would have been able to rid themselves of Deron Williams' onerous contract had they been willing to trade Mason Plumlee. They declined. Six months later, Plumlee is headed out of Brooklyn anyway.

The Nets and the Portland Trail Blazers reportedly agreed to a trade sending Steve Blake and freshly drafted Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to Brooklyn in exchange for Plumlee and draftee Pat Connaughton, per Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.

Plumlee took to Twitter to say farewell to his former team:

Mason Plumlee @masonplumlee

Thanks to Brooklyn for a great two years !

Plumlee, 25, averaged 8.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in his second NBA season. Despite being held in high regard internally, the former Duke star was in the starting lineup for only 45 games, ceding to Thaddeus Young and Brook Lopez.

His playing time markedly tapered off following the acquisition of the veteran Young, reaching a nadir when he averaged just 8.2 minutes a night in the Nets' first-round loss to Atlanta. Despite his success in a limited capacity, ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk believes Plumlee "didn't fit with Lionel Hollins' system. Hollins now gets a young, athletic wing that can defend in Hollis-Jefferson."

That change in status helped spark a reconsideration of Plumlee's status in Brooklyn. The Nets began floating his name in the predraft process as they looked to find a way to move up from the No. 29 spot. The team is desperate for an influx of young talent after sending a load of draft picks and pick-swapping rights to Boston and Atlanta in exchange for veteran talent, most of which is no longer on the roster.

Portland took advantage of Brooklyn's desperation, hoping to pick up a usable big man along the way.

Plumlee, for all of his limitations, is a fine two-way big. His high-energy style can be effective in pick-and-roll situations, as he has the athleticism to finish over defenders and has proven adept at doing so. More than 20 percent of his used offensive possessions last season came as a roll man. He's also a strong cutter to the rim and does a nice job at chasing offensive rebounds.

Defense is more of an adventure for Plumlee, who hasn't figured out how to use his athleticism to develop into even an passable rim protector. Opposing players shot nearly 4 percent better than their average when defended by Plumlee during the regular season.

That's a problem for a big who can't space the floor, is already 25 years old and didn't make any marked improvements between his rookie and second seasons.

The Trail Blazers will hope Plumlee's plateau is more a result of circumstance than anything. Giving up something of value for a player who might just be a backup big is a risky move with real consequences if it doesn't pay off.

Fingers crossed this is the right deal for both sides.