Which teams could send Nets largest return package in NBA history?
When information broke on NBA draft night time that Kevin Durant was “monitoring the Brooklyn Nets’ state of affairs and considering options with his future,” the crew’s former assistant common supervisor turned ESPN front-office insider Bobby Marks prompt a commerce “return bundle on Durant can be the largest in league history.”
It higher be, as a result of the Nets are already on the incorrect finish of one of many largest trades in NBA historical past and dwelling in concern of it occurring once more as we communicate. Durant formally requested a commerce from Brooklyn on Thursday.
The Nets traded three unprotected first-round picks and a decide swap for one middling season with past-their-prime Corridor of Famers Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce in 2013. They bottomed out and gifted the Boston Celtics the inspiration of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown that reached the NBA Finals inside a decade.
If they don’t maximize the return for Durant, the Nets may discover themselves on the backside of the standings once more, owing each certainly one of their first-round picks via 2027 to the Houston Rockets because of their failed James Harden experiment. They nonetheless have Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons to indicate for his or her dalliances with Durant and Harden (for now), however you attempt predicting what is going to turn out to be of them within the months to come back.
The most important trades in NBA historical past
So, what’s the largest return bundle in NBA historical past, and is Durant actually value a much bigger one?
You’ll be able to decide your taste between the All-NBA blockbuster 2019 offers that paired Anthony Davis with LeBron James on the Los Angeles Lakers and Paul George with Kawhi Leonard on the L.A. Clippers. This isn’t recency bias, however the willingness to commerce each accessible first-round decide directly is a growing pattern.
The Lakers parted with what amounted to almost a decade’s value of top-10 draft picks to land Davis: Brandon Ingram (the No. 2 general decide in 2016), Lonzo Ball (No. 2 general in 2017), the No. 4 general decide in 2019 (De’Andre Hunter), the No. 8 general decide this yr (Dyson Daniels), a 2023 first-round decide swap and an unprotected first-round decide in 2024 (that may be deferred to 2025). It was arguably all value it for the Lakers, who gained a title within the 2020 bubble, however the New Orleans Pelicans have been higher inside three years.
The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder fetched Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, 5 first-round picks and a pair of decide swaps, all between 2022 and 2026, for George. Jalen Williams, the No. 12 general decide on this yr’s draft, was the primary of these choices. The Clippers, a minimum of, can cling to the hope that George and Leonard could lead on them again into competition, if the 2 veterans return wholesome this coming season.
So, that’s the bar — a minimum of one All-Star-caliber participant on his rookie contract, as many as 5 first-round picks, some swaps in between, and high quality wage filler. If the Nets can land an analogous deal, they could make the most effective of a nasty state of affairs, particularly with Irving, Simmons and a handful of different property nonetheless on the roster.
Legitimate considerations about Kevin Durant
Davis was 26 years previous and a yr from free company when he requested a commerce. The Lakers basically bid towards themselves, as a result of everybody knew he was going there in a yr anyway, and the Pelicans nonetheless acquired the motherlode. George was 29 and had two years left on his deal when he requested out, however the Clippers have been over a barrel, since touchdown George additionally meant getting Leonard, so the Thunder requested for the moon.
Durant’s four-year, $194 million extension begins this summer time. The size of that contract, plus the reported absence of a no-trade clause, means Brooklyn holds extra playing cards than both the Pelicans or Thunder did. Durant can also be one of many 15 biggest gamers within the historical past of the league, whereas Davis and George will not be.
That elevated leverage is mitigated by the truth that Durant shall be 34 years previous at the beginning of subsequent season. He’s two years faraway from lacking a complete season to a ruptured proper Achilles’ tendon and has missed vital time over the previous two seasons with a hamstring pressure and MCL sprain in his left leg. He started this previous season as a critical MVP candidate and ended it with a regarding effort in a first-round sweep.
Lest we neglect Durant has additionally skipped city on three groups in six years on the first signal of bother.
Which groups could make the most effective supply?
These info imply rising stars like Tatum, Luka Doncic, Ja Morant, Trae Younger, Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley are all off the desk. Their groups will not be buying and selling a decade of promise for a couple of years of Durant. The most important exception to that rule might be Zion Williamson, whose personal harm historical past and tepid relationship with the Pelicans may make providing him and a cache of picks extra palatable.
You commerce for Durant in case you are one piece away from a title, you truthfully imagine you could possibly win it subsequent yr, and you don’t see one other path to get there within the close to future. That ought to rule out quite a lot of lottery groups. Oklahoma Metropolis, Orlando, Houston, Sacramento, Detroit, Indiana and San Antonio make little sense.
The Lakers, Clippers and Portland Path Blazers are absolutely thirsty for Durant, however none have the mandatory draft capital (though the Lakers may inquire about any curiosity in Davis). It’s laborious to think about the Nets dealing Durant in New York to the Knicks for a commerce centered round RJ Barrett and picks. The Charlotte Hornets will not be so near a championship that they need to supply LaMelo Ball. Are the Cleveland Cavaliers ready to bundle Darius Garland and picks to let one other legend hire their franchise for a couple of years?
You’ll be able to trim the checklist awfully fast. The Golden State Warriors have been there with Durant and simply gained the title with out him. The additional improvement of Tatum and Brown was all that stood between Boston and a championship. Tatum is untouchable, and Brown ought to be. The Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks wouldn’t have the ready-made rebuild bundle to supply Brooklyn a lot of actual substance.
The Phoenix Suns and Miami Warmth are reportedly on Durant’s checklist of most popular locations. They may respectively construct pick-heavy provides round Deandre Ayton and Tyler Herro, if both pursuits Brooklyn because the headliner in a Durant deal. Neither qualifies as the largest return in NBA historical past, though the Suns may put collectively the extra engaging supply, including both Mikal Bridges or Cameron Johnson to Ayton.
The Minnesota Timberwolves couldn’t cobble collectively a suggestion, excluding Edwards or Karl-Anthony Cities, that may promote the Sixers on buying and selling Ben Simmons, so good luck discovering one for Durant. The Chicago Bulls would wish Zach LaVine to approve a sign-and-trade deal to even inquire about Durant.
The Atlanta Hawks simply spent three draft picks to get Dejounte Murray. Durant for Donovan Mitchell and picks won’t be sufficient to push the Jazz excessive, even when Durant have been blissful in Utah. The Denver Nuggets wouldn’t have the draft picks, however they do have Jamal Murray as a possible commerce centerpiece.
That leaves the Toronto Raptors and Memphis Grizzlies, each of whom are deep with expertise and picks. Toronto may supply any mixture of Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby, together with their picks, and really feel fairly good about recreating the title run they made with Leonard. Memphis has Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., Dillon Brooks and Brandon Clarke, plus picks, as commerce choices.
None of these transactions would make Brooklyn really feel any higher than it did the day they signed Durant and Irving. If the Nets can get the Suns, Warmth, Pelicans, Raptors and Grizzlies, amongst others, to start out bidding towards one another, then they could discover themselves nearer to the largest return bundle in NBA historical past.
Whether or not Durant will make good on his finish is a matter left to his well being and willingness to remain in a single place.
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Ben Rohrbach is a employees author for Yahoo Sports activities. Have a tip? E mail him at rohrbach_ben@yahoo.com or comply with him on Twitter! Follow @brohrbach
