Durant to Phoenix

[JM3]

Dinwiddie still has 2 years left on his contract after this year & DFS has 3 years (plus a player option). I don't see any harm in keeping them for now, when they have no need to tank, & still have a while with them to trade them & receive value later.

According to this, the Lakers weren't willing to lock up Kyrie past 2 years & wouldn't throw Austin Reeves or Max Christie in the mix, so the Nets went the other way.

Apparently the Lakers wanted to extend Kyrie for 2/$80m & Kyrie wanted to go to free agency & sign for 4/$198m. A bit of a valuation difference.

https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2023/2/6/23587557/nba-trade-rumors-lakers-offer-kyrie-irving-extension-mavericks-austin-reaves-max-christie

 

[HomeRunBaker]

If this Durant trade happens first, does Kyrie still go to the Mavs?

DFS and Dinwiddie are alright but still don't seem like particularly valuable pieces for a rebuilding team.

Have to assume they would have gone simply for the most draft capital.

I don’t think Durant is ever traded first as it was Kyrie who initiated the restructuring of the roster. Without Kyrie’s trade request I don’t see why the Nets don’t look to make a run as they had been building to do.

 

[lovegtm]

Now that the Nets have stocked up good roleplayers and other teams' picks, it matters a lot less that they don't control their own, since they won't be tanking.

It's actually a lot like the post-Garnett Celtics. The Celtics did get one crack at the lottery to get Smart, but I imagine the Nets are happy already having Bridges in that role on a good contract.

I doubt that they've become a less-appealing destination; everyone knows it was Kyrie shenanigans. I'd feel great as a Nets fan right now, given how bad it could have gotten. Imagine if KD had had a season-ending injury prior to the trade...they'd be incredibly worse off.

 

[benhogan]

Now that the Nets have stocked up good roleplayers and other teams' picks, it matters a lot less that they don't control their own, since they won't be tanking.

It's actually a lot like the post-Garnett Celtics. The Celtics did get one crack at the lottery to get Smart, but I imagine the Nets are happy already having Bridges in that role on a good contract.

I doubt that they've become a less-appealing destination; everyone knows it was Kyrie shenanigans. I'd feel great as a Nets fan right now, given how bad it could have gotten. Imagine if KD had had a season-ending injury prior to the trade...they'd be incredibly worse off.

I could see Marks doing an "Ainge/Celtic" style rebuild. If they get the "right" coach in there (bring back Atkinson) they could be a regular season headache with all the defense they have now (Bridges, Claxton, DFS, Simmons, O'Neill) plus shooting in Harris, Curry, Cam Johnson, Mills, Watanabe. They'll compete most nights.

 

[lovegtm]

I could see Marks doing an "Ainge/Celtic" style rebuild. If they get the "right" coach in there (bring back Atkinson) they could be a regular season headache with all the defense they have now (Bridges, Claxton, DFS, Simmons, O'Neill) plus shooting in Harris, Curry, Cam Johnson, Mills, Watanabe. They'll compete most nights.

Right, and then you really pull an Ainge and sign 1 or 2 big FAs when the cap goes up, acquire a lead scorer for just one of those picks, and baby you got a stew going.

I'm extremely bullish on the Nets future in 2-3 years, unfortunately.

 

[benhogan]

Right, and then you really pull an Ainge and sign 1 or 2 big FAs when the cap goes up, acquire a lead scorer for just one of those picks, and baby you got a stew going.

I'm extremely bullish on the Nets future in 2-3 years, unfortunately.

there were rumors that a team (Memphis?) offered the Nets 4 Firsts for Mikal Bridges. I may just do that. They'll need a pick(s) to unload Simmons eventually, which would be better for their culture (improve their cap space)

 

[TripleOT]

Right, and then you really pull an Ainge and sign 1 or 2 big FAs when the cap goes up, acquire a lead scorer for just one of those picks, and baby you got a stew going.

I'm extremely bullish on the Nets future in 2-3 years, unfortunately.

If Cam Thomas can develop into a leading man, they could be a decent team sooner than later, but if a team is going to compete with the Bucks and Celtics, it’s going to need at least two all stars plus the solid supporting cast. It looks like they could be a player in the FA market in the summer of 2024. Let’s hope Jaylen Brown is locked into a new Celtics contract by then.

 

[ifmanis5]

Memphis was in the Durant hunt but came up short. (Zach Lowe has the original story which is behind a paywall)
View: https://twitter.com/RealGM/status/1624072086615625728

Grizzlies Offered All Picks, Swaps To Nets For Kevin Durant

View: https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/1624061573739192326

From overnight: Scattered thoughts on the Suns all-in play for Kevin (freaking) Durant, the revamped West landscape, and more:

 

[HomeRunBaker]

If Cam Thomas can develop into a leading man, they could be a decent team sooner than later, but if a team is going to compete with the Bucks and Celtics, it’s going to need at least two all stars plus the solid supporting cast. It looks like they could be a player in the FA market in the summer of 2024. Let’s hope Jaylen Brown is locked into a new Celtics contract by then.

Thomas is best suited as a second unit scorer as he’s so one-dimensional. He could score/create as well as any college player as a freshman two years ago and he is elite in this area…..that’s the only skill he has that’s above average however. That’s why he almost lasted until the 2nd round.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Memphis was in the Durant hunt but came up short. (Zach Lowe has the original story which is behind a paywall)
View: https://twitter.com/RealGM/status/1624072086615625728

Grizzlies Offered All Picks, Swaps To Nets For Kevin Durant

Not really. They might have been in the OG hunt, but being willing to move a bunch of picks since July, but no talented young players isn't a real offer honestly. Say they offered 2 more swaps than PHO, and maybe they threw in the GS protected 1st they own... a mediocre 1st and 2 swaps that may never get used (2024 won't, 2026 unlikely) is not close to Mikal Bridges alone, it's barely worth Johnson and Crowder.
If MEM wasn't willing to put Bane or JJJ (likely Bane) in the deal they weren't even in discussions, 4 or 5 teams easily give up almost as many picks, plus good young players.

Especially true for a trade with BKN who don't control their drafts, so no incentive to not be good.

 

[Justthetippett]

Not likely. If they remember anything, it’s that they catered to the stars and when they asked out, they were traded. KD even got to go to his first choice.
The other thing is that they have what every destination franchise needs, money and lots of it.

They certainly have the money, but Kyrie got traded because, among all the other reasons, he wasn't going to get paid what he wanted. I take your point. He's an exceptional case. But I still don't think the Nets come out smelling like roses in all this. If anything it just shifts the "superteam" destination balance slightly back in favor of the usual suspects, like Miami and LA. The Nets haven't shown they can really pull it off.

 

[DavidTai]

They certainly have the money, but Kyrie got traded because, among all the other reasons, he wasn't going to get paid what he wanted. I take your point. He's an exceptional case. But I still don't think the Nets come out smelling like roses in all this. If anything it just shifts the "superteam" destination balance slightly back in favor of the usual suspects, like Miami and LA. The Nets haven't shown they can really pull it off.

I dunno, Miami / LA relied on LeBron James. I'd like to see the 'Superteam' assessment pulled off without a LeBron involved.

 

[Euclis20]

I dunno, Miami / LA relied on LeBron James. I'd like to see the 'Superteam' assessment pulled off without a LeBron involved.

Do the Durant Warriors count?