Kevin Durant has officially been traded from Brooklyn to Phoenix, according to press releases from the Suns and Nets.
The blockbuster trade has been combined with the three-team trade agreement involving the Bucks, Nets, and Pacers that sends Jae Crowder to Milwaukee, turning the two deals into a single four-team transaction.
It breaks down as follows:
- Suns acquire Durant and T.J. Warren.
- Nets acquire Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, the Suns’ 2023 first-round pick (unprotected), the Suns’ 2025 first-round pick (unprotected), the Suns’ 2027 first-round pick (unprotected), the Suns’ 2029 first-round pick (unprotected), the right to swap first-round picks with the Suns in 2028, the Bucks’ 2028 second-round pick, the Bucks’ 2029 second-round pick, and the draft rights to Juan Pablo Vaulet (from Pacers).
- Bucks acquire Crowder.
- Pacers acquire Jordan Nwora, George Hill, Serge Ibaka, either the Bucks’ 2023 second-round pick or the least favorable of the Cavaliers’ and Warriors’ 2023 second-round picks (whichever is most favorable), the Bucks’ 2024 second-round pick, their own 2025 second-round pick (from Bucks; it was traded away in a prior deal), and cash (from Nets).
“Today is a transformative day for this organization,” new Suns owner Mat Ishbia said in a statement. “We are thrilled to welcome Kevin and T.J. to the Valley as we build a championship culture both on and off the court.
“Not only is Kevin one of the greatest and most accomplished players in the history of the sport, but his character also embodies the world class commitment to excellence we are instilling across every facet of this organization. T.J. is a natural leader whose work ethic and commitment to getting better every day make him an important addition to the team as he returns to the Valley. Phoenix will be one of the best organizations in all of sports and we are so excited to start our journey with this incredibly dynamic team.”
Nets general manager Sean Marks offered a statement of his own in Brooklyn’s press release:
“After thorough evaluation of the best path forward, we believe making this trade now positions the franchise for long-term success. Mikal and Cam are elite, ascending, versatile wings, plus the draft capital provides us additional avenues to continue to acquire talent. We remain steadfast in our commitment to building the team Brooklyn deserves. We are excited to welcome Mikal, Cam and their families to Brooklyn and thank Kevin for the moments and memories he delivered our fanbase.”
As expected, the Pacers waived Goga Bitadze and Terry Taylor to accommodate their new additions. The team also waived veteran forward James Johnson, per a press release. All three players will become unrestricted free agents if they clear waivers this weekend. Indiana will also cut Ibaka, as we previously relayed.
Because they no longer have to take on Crowder’s salary, the Nets will create a trade exception worth $18MM+ for Durant instead of $8MM, notes Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
For more details on the trade, be sure to read our previous stories breaking down the Durant and Crowder trades.
Not the top takeaway from all of this, but the Nets are getting back a stash they had for a long time, Juan Pablo Vaulet. I’m not even sure he’s still playing and I thought the Nets were getting five seconds for Crowder. It may be five total counting the Kyrie trade and if either Michelieau or Vaulet was originally a second rounder.
The Bucks gave up five second-rounders for Crowder, but because the Nets flipped all the incoming players (Hill, Nwora, Ibaka) to Indiana, the Pacers got three of those second-rounders and Brooklyn just got two.
It turns out Vaulet is still playing and he was a second rounder. He’s only 26 and his rights are returning to the Nets after they were sent to Indiana last year for Sumner.
Both Kyrie and KD will be nonfactor in the postseason. They will get injured, not to mention chemistry issues. Warriors are still the favorites.
I’m not sure how the Warriors are the favorites when they’ve been mediocre this year. Denver looks like the favorite in the west and Boston in the east. Just my two cents.
You’re not wrong but Warriors are 4 time and defending champ.
That is true. It all hinges on Steph’s health. If he is back 100% they will be tough to beat.
Not only that, Klay is shooting the lights out. He’s 100% better than last yr. Simply cant count Warriors out.
lol
An $18M TPE is much more likely to be used than a lot of the small TPEs.
CP3 may be miffed he was on the trade block and Ayton probably can’t believe he wasn’t traded. You don’t have to like somebody to play good basketball with them but you do have to know what they can and can’t do on the court. There will be a learning curve from both sides of this deal for the Suns…..will it work? there is only one ball so let’s see what happens.
K D & L J J, both excellent players, no question about that. They just complain and wine all the time. You give them the players that they say they need to win and they still suck.
Give me a team that doesn’t have two ball hogs !!
The Nets did a great job of turning two players who didn’t want to be there into a stash of draft capital. Definitely turned chicken s**t into chicken salad.
IMO
Bucks are the best team in the nba both regular season and playoffs
GO NETS!!!!!!!
I will be rooting for them to make postseason and win a series !!
Love Mikal and Cam, gonna miss them with the Suns… not gonna lie, I love what the Nets have done and as a Suns fan, despite getting KD and TJ, I feel we got fleeced
Nets were the winner here. That is an obscene load of draft capital. The Suns will likely need a rebuild by the time those picks are used because most of their core is already old or on the outs (Ayton), most of those 1sts could be lottery. As a side note, I feel like Bitadze should’ve received more opportunity than he got in Indiana. He has the talent to be an impact stretch C but had no clear path once they kept Turner and drafted Jackson.
Ok, can someone explain this one to me?
“either the Bucks’ 2023 second-round pick or the least favorable of the Cavaliers’ and Warriors’ 2023 second-round picks (whichever is most favorable)”
There’s not a good way to phrase it in a single sentence, but basically, the Bucks will control these two 2023 second-rounders:
1. Their own pick.
2. Either the Cavs’ or Warriors’ pick, whichever lands later in the draft.
Of those two picks, they’ll send the better one to Indiana.
The Nets are now like the Utah Jazz East.(with less draft capital)They have a bunch of guys in place that are too good to tank but not good enough to win a championship along with a bunch of draft picks that will most likely be mid to late 1st rounders.