Kevin Durant’s trade request has shaken the league, and many teams have already engaged in trade talks with the Brooklyn Nets. Despite that, it seems as though no team has made an offer that has piqued the Nets’ interest.
Perhaps a team like the Memphis Grizzlies could enter the mix for Kevin Durant. They have a superstar in Ja Morant, and it makes sense for the team to make a win-now move for the superstar. Here is our trade scenario.
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Kevin Durant
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Jaren Jackson Jr., Dillon Brooks, Ziaire Williams, Jake LaRavia, 2023 First-Round Pick, 2024 First-Round Pick (GSW via MEM), 2025 First-Round Pick (MEM), 2027 First-Round Pick (MEM), 2029 First-Round Pick (MEM)
The Memphis Grizzlies Become A Contender With Kevin Durant
Any team with Kevin Durant in theory will have a chance to win the championship. If you add Kevin Durant to a team that already has Ja Morant, then they become instant contenders. This trade would let the Memphis Grizzlies do just that. While the Memphis Grizzlies weren’t on Kevin Durant’s original list of preferred destinations, perhaps competing for a championship would entice him to play for the team.
To get Kevin Durant, the Memphis Grizzlies would have to send out a number of young players and a huge amount of compensation. In terms of the players involved, the Grizzlies would trade a top-tier rim protector in Jaren Jackson Jr., a solid two-way wing in Dillon Brooks, and two promising prospects in Ziaire Williams and Jake LaRavia to the Brooklyn Nets. One thing to note is that this trade can only be completed after the rookie restrictions on trading LaRavia expire, which is August 1st.
The Memphis Grizzlies would also transfer five total first-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets. The picks in 2027 and 2029 could be particularly valuable, as they would be conveyed when the Memphis Grizzlies are done contending.
In this trade scenario, the Memphis Grizzlies would also keep Desmond Bane and Brandon Clarke. Those two players could be beneficial in terms of helping the Memphis Grizzlies compete for a championship: Bane is an elite 3PT shooter while Clarke is an athletic big man that is very capable of rebounding and finishing at the rim.
Kevin Durant would give the Memphis Grizzlies another shot creator aside from Ja Morant, one who thrives in big-time situations in the playoffs. Kevin Durant would increase the team’s ceiling to being a championship-caliber team, and there’s no doubt that this would be a franchise-altering move. Trading for Kevin Durant would maximize the team’s ability to compete during the Ja Morant era, and we’ll see if they are able to acquire him in the future.
The Brooklyn Nets Get A Package With Good Young Players And Draft Compensation
In this scenario, the Brooklyn Nets would receive some young players who can help them compete in the short term, while also being valuable pieces for the next era of Brooklyn basketball.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is a versatile defensive big man, who has some ability to space the floor. Jackson Jr. averaged 37.5% from the 3PT range and got 2.5 BPG during the playoffs this year. While his overall offensive game and interior scoring could use some work, Jaren Jackson Jr. clearly has star potential. Dillon Brooks is a decent shot creator, but his biggest value is the perimeter defense he can play on opposing players. Ziaire Williams is a solid perimeter defender as well, and Jake LaRavia is a prospect that was known for his 3PT shooting in college. In terms of players, this is a solid package to receive for the Brooklyn Nets.
The key appeal for the Brooklyn Nets, though, will be the five unprotected first-round picks that they will receive from the Memphis Grizzlies. Those picks will give them flexibility for the future and allow them to build a top-tier team by either drafting prospects or trading those picks for good players. Overall, this deal would get the Brooklyn Nets a solid return for Kevin Durant, and get them the players that can keep them afloat and allow them to continue being competitive.
This Is A Win-Win Trade For Both Teams
With this trade, the Brooklyn Nets would get a package that has win-now, starting-level players, and plenty of draft compensation. They would be able to still be solid in the Eastern Conference, perhaps competing for a play-in spot.
For the Memphis Grizzlies, this is a consolidation trade to get a superstar. While they would sacrifice a lot of flexibility for their future, the Grizzlies would add the shot-creating wing player they’ve been missing in Kevin Durant, and become one of the favorites to win the championship, if not the outright favorite. This is a typical win-win trade. While there have been no suggestions that the Grizzlies and the Nets are exploring a deal with this framework currently, perhaps we’ll see them talk about a trade with this structure in the future.
