Nets may bring in cheap help or deal vets as NBA trade deadline looms

At last year’s trade deadline, the Nets made enough megadeals to shake up the NBA.

Thursday likely will be quieter.

After Brooklyn moved stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving before last season’s deadline, any swaps they make before 3 p.m. are expected to be small instead of seismic.

The Nets could be both buyers and sellers, just trading for role players.

Presuming they hold onto Nic Claxton, 30-year-olds Royce O’Neale, Dorian Finney-Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie have all drawn some interest — with Cleveland, Thursday’s foe, and Milwaukee among those interested.

And don’t expect All-Stars incoming like Dejounte Murray or D’Angelo Russell.

Keep expectations more in the range of rotation players like Phoenix’s Nassir Little, Cleveland’s Dean Wade or Oklahoma City’s Davis Bertans.

Bertans, linked to the team in a report by The Athletic, is 6-foot-10 and hitting 41.7 percent from deep, fitting the desired mold of a bigger stretch 4 who can bring the Nets both size and floor spacing.

This roster build is going to be methodical, not miraculous.

Murray is the biggest name still on the market, but Brooklyn GM Sean Marks has no interest in paying the two first-round picks the Hawks want for the All-Star. And don’t expect a reunion with Russell, either.

The Nets can’t neatly be pigeonholed into the category of buyer or seller, having made calls that could make them both.

Dinwiddie, Finney-Smith and O’Neale are all 30.

Dinwiddie is believed to be the most available, but O’Neale may well be the one who could return closest to their asking price.

“I don’t pay attention to it,” O’Neale said recently. “Come in and play basketball, play video games, take my mind off [outside factors] with whatever I’ve got to. Don’t fall into the distractions.”

Still, with the Nets not facing the Cavaliers until after the deadline, O’Neale made it a point after Tuesday’s loss to shake hands with all his teammates — just in case they become former teammates.

Since last season, the Nets have consistently demanded at least a first-round pick or equivalent player for O’Neale, who is on an expiring $9.5 million contract.

According to NetsDaily, Phoenix offered two second-rounders and Little, an athletic upside 23-year-old wing.

The Cavs checked in on O’Neale and Finney-Smith last season, and they are still eyeing both per Cleveland.com.

Lonnie Walker IV has also drawn interest from the Cavaliers and Celtics.

Sources told The Post the Nets rejected two first-rounders for Finney-Smith last year but don’t appear to be garnering even similar offers now.

The Bucks are interested but haven’t met their price, per ESPN.

Though it wasn’t said what the Nets wanted in return, the same outlet has previously reported interest in 3-and-D forward Wade, who’d bring some much-needed size — a 6-9 frame and 7-foot wingspan.

Wade is averaging 5.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in 21.7 minutes.

He’s shooting 40.1 percent from deep — including a solid 41.3 percent in 30 starts.

And just beginning a three-year, $18 million contract, he’d save the Nets money this summer to put toward re-signing Claxton.

O’Neale is close friends with Cavs star Donovan Mitchell, who declined to sign an extension last offseason.

If he refuses again this summer, it could force Cleveland into a tough decision, since he can opt out after next season.

Neither Dinwiddie nor backup Dennis Smith Jr. are part of the long-range rebuild, but Ben Simmons’ unpredictable health makes moving either point guard risky.

Dinwiddie has drawn interest from the Hawks and Lakers, though Russell’s recent play likely cooled that. He’s been linked to the Magic and Raptors by The Athletic, and NetsDaily reported if Dinwiddie isn’t moved he could be bought out.

Within an hour, the guard vehemently denied the latter report.

“Lol I understand y’all mad at me right now. But this ain’t true,” Dinwiddie said on X. “No one enjoys losing. Y’all wouldn’t be frustrated if we were winning. Winning is fun.”

When told it appears he’s fallen out of love with the organization, he replied, “You mean when I sit on the bench under 5min on the clock like I always have?”

“While we’re here let me clarify one other false narrative this season. Every night I take on the challenge of guarding Markannen, Banchero, KD, Luka etc. Even Jalen Duran/Stewart in Detroit as a primary defender. Never been a quitter. We all want to win in this locker room.”