Brooklyn Nets Receive: G/F Jaylen Brown, C Al Horford

Boston Celtics Receive: F Kevin Durant

The most difficult part of putting this package together was deciding who, if anyone, would receive draft picks.

On the one hand, Jaylen Brown is eight years younger than Durant. He’s also emerging as a bonafide star in the NBA. Meanwhile, Al Horford is required here to make the contracts match.

He’s arguably overpaid at $26.5 million a year, but he’ll also be an expiring contract this season. He remains a highly impactful player who would help any team next season.

On the other hand, this is Kevin Durant we’re talking about. He’s a top-20 all-time player if we’re being conservative. Health permitting, he’s likely to remain the best player in this deal next season.

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We opted against including any draft capital. From a pure value perspective, this feels like a fair trade. It also feels like something neither side is likely to do.

Still, let’s explore the reasons they might.