Brooklyn Nets

Utah Jazz Receive: G/F Ben Simmons, F Cam Johnson, 2025 First-Round Pick (PHO)

Phoenix Suns Receive: F Kevin Durant

Brooklyn Nets Receive: G Donovan Mitchell, F Mikal Bridges, 2023 First-Round Pick (PHO), 2027 First-Round Pick (PHO)

First, this deal needs a caveat: it assumes that Deandre Ayton is an Indiana Pacer.

Of course, for some, that discredits the Phoenix Suns as a landing spot for Kevin Durant. We think differently. By including the Utah Jazz in a deal, these teams can make a fair trade for everyone.

The Brooklyn Nets could surely do worse. They’re landing a 25-year-old star, a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, and two first-round picks in exchange for Durant. It may not be the “biggest return of all time” that they were hoping for, but surveying the league’s landscape, it’s hard to imagine how they’ll do any better.

Realistically, this deal comes down to Utah’s assessment of Ben Simmons. There’s every possibility that they’d prefer to take the Knicks’ treasure trove of draft picks. With that said, if they see Simmons as a potential cornerstone, they may be content to land him.

LATEST NBA NEWS AND RUMORS: Utah Jazz Open To Donovan Mitchell Trade Talks, Could Brooklyn Nets Acquire Him?

This would be the summer’s biggest blockbuster. It involves a lot of moving pieces, which makes it inherently unlikely. We wouldn’t dismiss it as impossible.