After trading Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks, many wondered what the future would hold for Kevin Durant with the Brooklyn Nets. Everyone was split, with some thinking that Durant would want out and others thinking that Durant would stay. Now, the Phoenix Suns have made a massive blockbuster pre-NBA Trade Deadline trade to acquire Durant from the Nets.
During the offseason, the Suns and Nets were rumored to have discussed a Durant trade. Nothing came to fruition, but the Irving trade request started a domino effect that has now included Durant being shipped out of town.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Nets are giving up both Durant and TJ Warren, who used to be a part of the Suns. In return, the Suns are sending Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks, and a 2028 pick swap to Brooklyn.
Breaking Down The Suns, Nets, Kevin Durant Trade
To put it mildly, this is a trade that came out of nowhere. Everything had been quiet until just after 1:00 a.m. on the day of the trade deadline. However, a trade is a trade and Durant is headed to Phoenix.
For the Suns, this trade is a clear win. They were able to keep Deandre Ayton, Chris Paul, and Devin Booker together. They gave up some depth, but Crowder was already on his way out and Durant slides in to replace Bridges immediately. Getting Warren also adds to the bench for Phoenix.
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On the other side of the deal, the Nets are getting a ton of draft capital, which is huge for the rebuild they will go through. Being able to acquire young pieces like Bridges and Johnson is a big step in the right direction as well. The Nets have to be happy with their haul.
From the outside looking in, this looks like a win-win trade for both teams. Unfortunately for the Nets, the Durant-Irving combination did not work out. Could they look to trade Ben Simmons before the deadline as well?
Expect to continue hearing a lot of news and rumors coming out with the trade deadline just hours away. Nobody saw this Kevin Durant trade coming, so stay tuned for more NBA craziness.
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