Houston Rockets Receive: G/F Jaylen Brown
Brooklyn Nets Receive: G/F Eric Gordon, F/C Robert Williams III, F David Nwaba, 2023 First-Round Pick (Swap Rights – BKN via HOU), 2023 First-Round Pick (MIL via HOU), 2024 First-Round Pick (BKN via HOU), 2024 First-Round Pick (BOS), 2025 First-Round Pick (Swap Rights – BKN via HOU), 2026 First-Round Pick (BOS), 2027 First-Round Pick (Swap Rights – BKN via HOU), 2029 First-Round Pick (Swap – BOS)
Boston Celtics Receive: F Kevin Durant
On a surface level, Robert Williams III, four unprotected first-round picks, the removal of swap rights from three more, and a pick swap may not feel like a great return for Kevin Durant. That’s before you consider how much of the draft capital they’re receiving here was theirs in the first place.
This trade allows the Nets to once again control their own destiny. Suddenly, bottoming out in pursuit of landing a franchise player in the draft becomes an option.
Not that it becomes imperative. Having (most of) their draft capital back provides the Nets some flexibility. They’ll suddenly have options available. Generally speaking, that’s the most any NBA franchise can ask for.
Meanwhile, the Rockets expedite their rebuilding process by landing Brown. They could rationalize this trade easily – in the aggregate, they’d have traded Harden for Brown, Tari Eason, and a 2026 first-round pick. That’s not bad. They should insist on keeping that ’26 first-rounder. They owe their own selection to the Thunder that year, so ensuring that they still have a selection would be wise.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND RUMORS: 1 Major Obstacle In Boston Celtics Trade Talks For Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant
On the other hand, if the Rockets would prefer to stay the course and hold onto their draft capital, there may be one more way to move Durant to the Boston Celtics in a three-team deal.
