This summer has been that has featured a lot of trade rumors. Much speculation has been regarding the futures of Brooklyn Nets stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Ever since Kevin Durant requested a trade from the Nets, there has been no shortage of reports linking both stars to one franchise or another.
One possibility is for Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant to potentially be traded to the same place. NBA insider Brian Windhorst once suggested the possibility of the Los Angeles Lakers having the ability to make a package to get both players.
“It has been floated to me by executives that if they were to be kept together, the Lakers can make a package to get the both of them.”
In this article, we will present a version of this trade package. The Los Angeles Lakers would have to include big man Anthony Davis in this deal to get a player of Kevin Durant’s caliber, but perhaps getting two elite players in return would make it worth it.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Anthony Davis, Talen Horton-Tucker, Russell Westbrook, 2027 First-Round Pick (LAL), 2029 First-Round Pick (LAL)
Los Angeles Lakers Create A Big Three
For the Los Angeles Lakers, this trade would be about maximizing superstar LeBron James’ superstar-caliber play as he heads towards the end of his career. Adding Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving would give the Lakers the best star trio in the league, and they would likely become the immediate favorite for the championship.
Anthony Davis is a top-tier big man when healthy, but he has been plagued with injuries over the course of the last two seasons. However, he is also talented enough to potentially get back to being a superstar in the future. It will take a top-tier star to pry Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets, and moving Anthony Davis is the Lakers’ best shot to acquire him. The Lakers could also potentially move Russell Westbrook to acquire Kyrie Irving in the same trade, and some people have suggested that it’s only a matter of time before that particular move ends up happening.
To get the deal done, the Los Angeles Lakers would have to give up their best young prospect in Talen Horton-Tucker, as well as their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks. Those picks would likely become valuable in the future, as they fall outside of the Lakers’ likely championship window. Obviously, giving up their future assets is a risk for the Lakers, but the trade-off would be the potential of competing for the championship every single year for the near future.
The Los Angeles Lakers have always been a star-driven franchise, and this move would have the team assemble an insane amount of star power on the roster. It is clear that this past season’s roster wasn’t championship-caliber, but perhaps this potential trade scenario that lets the team acquire two stars will put them on that level.
Nets Start Rebuilding With 3 Stars
The Brooklyn Nets don’t currently own their picks in the immediate future due to the team trading for James Harden at the 2021 trade deadline. They have a lot of picks and swaps that are currently in possession of the Houston Rockets. That means that the Nets do not have any incentive to tank for the next few years, and it is in their best interest to stay competitive in the immediate future. This trade would help them do so, as they would be acquiring multiple win-now players in the deal.
Anthony Davis is obviously the main player that the Brooklyn Nets would want in this deal. He is only 29 years old right now, and he could be the face of the Brooklyn Nets franchise for years to come. He is a versatile big man offensively and is also capable of protecting the rim and guarding multiple positions. It is true that Anthony Davis had a down year due to injuries this past season, but Davis could potentially bounce back on the Nets and get back to playing at a superstar level.
Russell Westbrook is a player that had a rough time with the Los Angeles Lakers, and it is clear that he is someone that could use a change of scenery. Just a season ago, during the 2020-21 season, he helped the Washington Wizards make the NBA playoffs, and, likely, Russell Westbrook can still be a contributor to winning, in a different situation. Perhaps he could help the Brooklyn Nets remain a competitive team alongside Ben Simmons and Anthony Davis.
The Brooklyn Nets would also get some future assets in this deal: guard prospect Talen Horton-Tucker, and two first-round picks in 2027 and 2029. Acquiring those players/picks is a good proposition for the Brooklyn Nets, and it will allow them to have some flexibility for the future.
This trade would get the Brooklyn Nets two win-now players and some other pieces that can help them in a few years. The Brooklyn Nets would start a rebuild with three star-level players, which will give them a good headstart to being a championship-caliber team after the Kevin Durant era.
This Deal Makes Sense For Both Teams
Overall, this deal is one that will be beneficial for both the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers. If Kevin Durant is truly unhappy with his situation on the Brooklyn Nets, it would be in their best interest to move him. This move would let them get another top-tier star in return, as well as some other valuable pieces. Afterward, they could potentially flip some of the players/assets they get in future trades, further benefitting the franchise.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, this would essentially let them pair two of the top superstars of the past decade with one another. They would also be getting Kyrie Irving to be the No. 3 option behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant. This will help them get back to a championship-caliber team. We have seen both LeBron James and Kevin Durant show out on the highest stage in the NBA Finals against one another already. As Gilbert Arenas previously said, a lot of fans want to see the two superstars play with one another and pursue a championship together. An All-NBA caliber as the third-best player on a team is an absolute luxury as well, and that situation could benefit Kyrie Irving, as he’d have less pressure to be one of the faces of a franchise.
Overall, this deal could have a huge impact on how the Western Conference will play out, as the Los Angeles Lakers would instantly become a much better team and would likely be a championship contender. It would be interesting to see how things work in action rather than on paper, but the talent level of the Los Angeles Lakers suggests that they would play a must-watch brand of basketball.
As for the Brooklyn Nets, it is possible that they would still be a play-in tier team or even a lower-tier playoff team with their roster after this trade. Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook can both contribute, and they would still have other win-now players such as Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, and Joe Harris on the roster.
We will see if the two teams end up contacting one another about a deal with this potential framework in the future. There are definitely other good moves out there for both teams as well. However, in terms of a win-win move, this trade is one of the best out there.
