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Kevin Durant was reportedly surprised by Kyrie Irving's request to be traded by the Brooklyn Nets. KD demanded a trade in the offseason but the Nets refused to ship him without acquiring the kind of compensation they were looking for.
Durant and the Nets eventually settled their issues and informed everyone that they were moving forward with their partnership for the long haul. Five months later, Irving’s request to play somewhere else has put a wrench into Brooklyn’s carefully laid plan.
The Nets will be competitive with the roster they have, but they will not be title contenders without Kyrie Irving. With the situation staring him and Brooklyn in the face, teams could start checking on the former MVP’s trade availability.
Here are five teams who could try to lure KD out of Brooklyn:
#5 Denver Nuggets
Outside of Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets could entertain trading any player and first-round picks for the “Slim Reaper.” Michael Porter Jr. or Jamal Murray could be the centerpiece of Denver’s package that could also include Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Brooklyn gets Kevin Durant outside of their conference and gets a ton of draft capital for their rebuild. Denver will sacrifice roster depth to pull off the trade, but Durant is worth all of that.
Before the season started, the Nuggets were rumored to be seriously considering a trade for the "Slim Reaper." They might take a more aggressive approach this time.
Nikola Jokic and Kevin Durant are perhaps the most fearsome duo in the NBA if the Nuggets can get away with it. They will be instant title favorites with KD in the lineup.
#4 Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors did their due diligence in the offseason when Kevin Durant told Nets team owner Joe Tsai that he wanted out. Steph Curry was rumored to be open to the idea of reuniting with KD. Ultimately, the Warriors decided against it as they were unwilling to let go of their emerging young players.
The same young players the Warriors thought would make the leap this season have struggled. It may take longer before they reach their potential, which still makes them valuable trade assets.
Jonathan Kuminga, James Wiseman, Moses Moody and even Draymond Green could be included in the equation. The Warriors also own several first-round picks in the next few years.
A rebuilding Nets team may just be the place for the aforementioned youngsters to bloom. They won’t be under intense pressure to keep up with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson’s timeline. Brooklyn can get rid of Kevin Durant's contract while amassing the picks to sustain the rebuild.
#3 LA Lakers
Instead of Kyrie Irving, the LA Lakers could swing for Kevin Durant. Lakers GM Rob Pelinka is only willing to include the team’s 2027 and 2029 first-round picks for a player that will bring them to the “finish line.” Kevin Durant is certainly one of those players.
The Brooklyn Nets could take on the expiring contracts of Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley. Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves should also be part of the package.
The Nets get a fresh start with plenty of cap space next season and coveted draft capital. The Lakers will be heavily favored to raise banner# 18 to the rafters if they can work a miracle.
#2 New York Knicks
The New York Knicks thought they had a legitimate shot at landing the biggest free agent in the summer of 2019. It turned out later that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were already planning to create their super team in Brooklyn. Durant bypassed the chance to make the historic Madison Square Garden his playground, choosing instead to ply his trade at Barclays Center.
The Knicks shouldn’t even think twice about inquiring about the possibility of getting Durant. They were willing to offload a ton of picks and players for Donovan Mitchell this off-season. New York must be planning to call Sean Marks for the same picks, plus Obi Toppin, Mitchell Robinson and Cam Reddish.
Losing both Kevin Durant and Kyrie signals an inevitable painstaking rebuild. New York’s treasure trove of picks and young players as part of their offer could entice Brooklyn to part ways with Durant.
#1 New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans have an intriguing package that could be centered around former All-Star Brandon Ingram. They could include any player other than Zion Williamson in the deal, plus a boatload of draft picks to entice the Brooklyn Nets.
The Pelicans have five first-round picks in 2023 and 2024 alone. These include the pick swaps that involved Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday to the LA Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks, respectively.
Ingram still has three years left on his deal, including this season, and would not be a stranger to carrying a franchise. New Orleans’ treasure trove of assets is something the Nets don’t have.
