Wow. Talk about a huge blockbuster deal right before the 2022-23 NBA trade deadline.
Around 1:00am EST on Thursday morning, the Brooklyn Nets made a key decision by trading future Hall of Fame player Kevin Durant.
According to NBA.com,
the Suns added Durant to a starting lineup that already includes an All-Star backcourt of Chris Paul and Devin Booker, along with center Deandre Ayton.
In the trade, Phoenix will send Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks and additional draft compensation to the Nets. The Suns also receive forward T.J. Warren in the deal.
Suns receive:
- Kevin Durant
- T.J. Warren
Nets receive:
- Mikal Bridges
- Cam Johnson
- Jae Crowder
- 4 1st-round picks
- 2028 pick swap
The 34-year-old Durant is still playing at an elite level, averaging nearly 30 points per game this season. Durant and the Suns were linked to trade rumors over the past summer, but nothing materialized until Wednesday.
The trade comes just hours after new Suns majority owner Mat Ishbia was introduced in Phoenix. The self-described basketball nut, who was a walk-on at Michigan State under Tom Izzo, didn’t waste any time shaking up the NBA.
Chris Haynes of the NBA on TNT reports the move from Brooklyn to Phoenix was a collaborative one between Durant’s camp and the Nets. The move to the Suns was something both sides were interested in pursuing and he and the Nets left on good terms, Haynes reports.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Suns were moving toward a three-team deal that would have landed them Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins. But Ishbia and general manager James Jones texted Nets GM Sean Marks late Wednesday night and soon cobbled together the workings of the trade that will send Durant back to the Western Conference.
Phoenix has never won an NBA championship. The Suns made the Finals two seasons ago, but lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. They also played in the Finals in 1976 and 1993.
The quartet of Durant, Paul, Booker and Ayton appears to immediately turn the franchise into title contenders again.
The Suns have had several injuries this season but played better in recent weeks. They jumped to fifth in the Western Conference with a 30-26 record. Booker (groin) and Paul (hip) have both recently returned.
Durant is currently recovering from a ligament strain in his right knee, but he is expected to return soon.
When former Nets teammate Kyrie Irving heard the news, he said: “I’m just glad that he got out of there.”
The Nets recently traded Irving to the Dallas Mavericks, where he’ll pair with Luka Doncic as another top team in the Western Conference. Irving scored 24 points in his Mavs debut against the Clippers on Wednesday.
“We had a lot of conversations throughout the year of what our futures were going to look like,” Irving said. “There was still a level of uncertainty but we just cared about seeing each other be places that we can thrive. Whether that be together or whether that be apart, there has never been one moment where I’ve felt like he’s been angry at me for the decisions I’ve made or I’ve been angry at him.
“I just love the competition now that we can be in the same conference.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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