You might not miss the bombshell that fell on the NBA on June 30, a few hours before the opening of the Free Agency. Kevin Durant asked his franchise, the Brooklyn Nets, for his trade. But now the more important question is: where might it go? And how to carry out such a historic transfer? Right away, zoom in on the Indiana Pacers and their possibilities in order to recover KD.
Friday June 30, 2022, 8:49 p.m. French time, the explosion falls.
Kevin Durant wants to leave Brooklyn, time is running out and Coco wants to win more rings. After the time of the exploding thermometer, the entire TrashTalk editorial team has therefore asked themselves THE question that torments us all… but where the hell will KD pursue his career? To do this, and because we like to push the delirium as far as possible, we have collectively decided to look at all the NBA franchises. Yes yes, all the franchises: 29 detailed articles, with a quick overview of what might happen.
Make way for the Pacers.
The Pacers’ situation
NB: Malcolm Brogdon is no longer part of the band
# Why would the Pacers go for KD?
Because they have activated the rebuild mode (departure of Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon, arrival of the crackito Haliburton) and that as long as they look for themselves as much as offer themselves direct guarantees of victories. The Pacers aren’t sure where they’re going for a few months and, at least, with a captain like KD on board the question is immediately answered. There is a marvelous young leader in the troop, everything else is very nice but does not measure up to a Durant in his prime opposite, so… who tries nothing has nothing?
# Which players are unavailable?
Might as well say it right away because otherwise we will get angry. From an already effective/potential talent point of view, when you align the basketball IQ, the leadership and the age of the guy on the same sheet, it is impossible to imagine letting such a nugget go. The Kings made this choice, either, the Pacers for their part are probably well aware of the chance they have to have within them the former point guard of Sacto and, already, best player of his franchise. The little one has everything of a big one, so we keep him warm because he is even the kind of player that KD dreams of during each of his nocturnal tribulations.
# Which Pacers players might catch the Nets’ attention?
- Tyrese Haliburton, Chris Duarte, Bennedict Mathurin
Tyrese Haliburton obviously but we said it: no minouche key. We therefore have two potential talents to shoe for the Nets and we are necessarily thinking of Chris Duarte, a great explosion of flavor on the wings last season, and Bennedict Mathurin, local pickaxe from the last Draft and who does not have his tongue in his pocket in addition to having a profile that excites. We can also mention to finish the young Jalen Smith or even Isaiah Jackson, interesting but clearly a notch below in terms of potential values.
# Do they have Draft picks to offer them?
A package, including four in 2023 (three first rounds). Certainly a detail that will count in the event of discussions even if, spoiler, discussions there will not be.
Nets salary grid
The Pacers’ ideal package:
- Chris Duarte
- Buddy Hield
- Aaron Nesmith
- Jalen Smith
- 4 first draft rounds
- 2 picks swaps
- A spade
Don’t touch Tyrese, don’t touch Bennedict, and so we’re going on a very young + Buddy Hield type package. Hello Sean Marks? It was just to offer you… hello? Hello ? Beep, beep, beep.
Feasibility score: 2/10
Kevin Durant on the Indianapolis side? In fact, nothing is impossible and as a famous philosopher from Hérault said: it is by doing anything that you become anyone. To acquire KD the Pacers know in any case what they have to do. So, is it tempting or not?
