As the entire NBA world waits patiently for news on the Kevin Durant front, teams around the league continue to explore ways to trade for the 2x champion.
But on ESPN Wednesday afternoon, league insider Bobby Marks hit everyone with a huge 4-team trade involving the Nets, Suns, Pacers, and Jazz.
“Let’s start with two players under the age of 25 in Donovan Mitchell and Mikal Bridges. And then you add a player like Myles Turner. So that checks the boxes for Brooklyn as far as what they’re looking for. Then let’s go to Phoenix. Kevin Durant, that checks the boxes for Phoenix. We’ve all talked about Deandre Ayton and a potential offer sheet — this is a sign and trade, he goes to Indiana. Here’s the big question: is this enough for the Utah Jazz when you look at Ben Simmons, Cam Thomas, five first-round picks, and then 3 swap rights? It makes sense for three of the teams. I think the big question will be is that enough for the Utah Jazz.”
.@BobbyMarks42 with a wild four-team hypothetical trade 😳 pic.twitter.com/S3RmU7YENO
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 13, 2022
The Nets are expected to make a deal for Durant at some point this offseason, but who will be the team that ends up with him? So far, only Phoenix and Miami have been tagged as KD’s preferred landing spots, so they are leading the charge in trade talks.
Meanwhile, the Jazz are still looking for a landing spot for Donovan Mitchell, who has been tied up in rumors for years now. After sending Rudy Gobert to Minnesota for a lucrative haul of picks, don’t expect the price of Mitchell to come cheap.
Really, those two teams (and their respective stars) are the biggest dominoes yet to fall this summer, and what happens with them this year will have a direct impact on the NBA’s balance of power for years to come.
