Brooklyn Nets Receive: F Zion Williamson, G Devonte’ Graham, 2023 First-Round Pick (LAL via NOP), 2025 First-Round Pick (NOP)
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: F Kevin Durant
The idea of Kevin Durant heading to the Big Easy isn’t new. Still, most observers would expect the New Orleans Pelicans to send the Nets Brandon Ingram and a larger collection of picks. This deal may make more sense for both sides.
For the Pelicans, trading for Kevin Durant is all about winning an NBA championship in 2022-23. A core group of Durant, Ingram, CJ McCollum, Jonas Valanciunas, and Herb Jones certainly puts them in the running. They ought to field the best offense in the NBA.
Concerns about any redundancy between Durant and Ingram ought to be put aside. Their overlapping strengths do not conflict, and they don’t share any overlapping weaknesses. In simple terms, they can both shoot, so there’s no problem.
Sure, a Williamson/Durant pairing has a higher ceiling, but it also has a lower floor. Relying on Williamson is too significant a gamble at this juncture.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Updates On Kevin Durant, Donovan Mitchell, Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook, Deandre Ayton, Zion Williamson, More
It’s too easy to imagine a doomsday scenario where Williamson suffers a season-ending injury, and the Pelicans are left without enough to contend. Suddenly, they’ve traded Ingram and a boatload of picks for nothing other than the hope that Durant’s age 35 season goes more smoothly.
As for the Nets, they ought to gamble on ceiling here. They won’t be contending in 2022-23 whether they trade for Ingram or Williamson, so they might as well take the player who’s more likely to be the centerpiece of a contender in a few years. Even in a soft rebuild, there’s logic in taking the higher-upside player.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Updates On Kevin Durant, Donovan Mitchell, Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook, Deandre Ayton, Zion Williamson, More
Of course, for the Nets to acquire Williamson, who was signed to a designated rookie max extension this summer, the recently signed player restriction would need to come to pass. They would also need to trade Ben Simmons in a separate deal.
