NBA (DR) / Brooklyn Nets (DR)
The Nets will likely part ways with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, where they land remains to be seen. However, it might well be that they continue to play together next season… A three-team deal would thus send them to the West, just like Ben Simmons. That would be quite a surprise.
We know it, Kevin Durant et Kyrie Irving want to leave Brooklyn. We also know that everyone has their preferences in terms of destination: the winger would like to join the Suns or the Heat, while the leader is strongly squinting at the Lakers where his ex-teammate LeBron James is waiting for him. The concern is that the franchises mentioned will find it difficult to set up an exchange with the New York leaders, for lack of convincing assets.
Indeed, the Blacks and Whites do not intend to simply sell off their shock duo, even if it means sending the two friends to places that were not at all on their list. And that’s what might happen, if GM Sean Marks managed to get along with two squads from the West: New Orleans and Denver. The first would recover Ben Simmons, while the second would welcome the starred tandem. BKN would begin a complete overhaul of the workforce:
- Nuggets host: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kira Lewis Jr.
- Nets receive: Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Jeff Green, Peyton Watson, Christian Braun, Jonas Valanciunas, Devonte’ Graham, Jaxson Hayes, Trey Murphy III, two 2024 first-round picks (Pelicans & Lakers), one first-round pick 2025 (Pelicans), a 2027 first-round pick (Bucks via Pelicans), a 2029 first-round pick (Nuggets)
- Pelicans receive: Ben Simmons, Bones Hyland, Zeke Nnaji
KD and Kyrie at the Nuggets, Ben Simmons at the Pelicans?
Without a doubt, such a scenario would be absolutely incredible, especially since we doubt that the outcome will please the two superstars very much. Nevertheless, the track leading KD to the Pépites is not that new, since some rumors around him and Nikola Jokic already surrounded him some time ago. For the Nets, this would be the perfect opportunity to start from scratch, with the six draft picks partly securing the future of the franchise while recovering a backbone of the roster.
We can also mention the potential arrival of Jamal Murray, who would wear the colors of another team for the first time in his career. An easy sacrifice for Denver, if the Colorado men can form a Big Three with the Slim Reaper, Joker and Uncle Drew instead. Armed with this trio, Mike Malone’s group would immediately become title favorites from 2022-23. The prospect of a Durant-Jokic racquet would be particularly terrifying.
Finally, we can also note certain advantages for the Pelicans, whose ambitions are renewed with the return from injury of Zion Williamson. If the leaders of the Bayou let slip their rotation at the pivot position, then they might try something very intriguing by putting Ben Simmons in the place. Talented distributor, he might serve as an attachment point in the racket, not uninteresting to serve Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum.
We are still very far from such an outcome, but this potential three-team exchange will be one to watch in the coming weeks. Brooklyn wants to obtain a counterpart allowing it to bounce back, and this one might well convince the front office. Even if it means not satisfying Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving…
