Utah Jazz receive: G Kyrie Irving

Brooklyn Nets receive: C Rudy Gobert

On the other hand, this trade is a little more difficult to justify. Still, squint hard enough, and you can see it.

The Nets move forward with a new, simple formula following this deal. Basically, it’s Kevin Durant plus the league’s two best defenders equals success. Does it work out?

It’s hard to say conclusively. The Nets will inevitably run into spacing issues with Simmons and Gobert together. At the same time, with some coaching creativity, and elite spacing between them in Durant, Joe Harris, and Seth Curry, the sheer defensive dominance of the Nets’ new duo could prevail.

It’s a long shot. It may be one for the Jazz too. It’s hard to imagine this team will feel any degree of confidence that Irving will show up to work when he struggled to do so in one of the league’s biggest markets alongside one of his best friends.

LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Bulls, Hawks, Raptors Teams Most Interested In Rudy Gobert Trade

In other words, this deal probably won’t happen. The Nets are unlikely to pair two of the league’s most expensive non-spacers, and the Jazz don’t seem like the type of organization to take a risk on Kyrie. Could a third team land Gobert on the Nets?