The Golden State Warriors won the 2022 NBA championship, and there’s no doubt that this was a big win for them, especially since a lot of people didn’t expect them to beat the Boston Celtics.
While it is clear that the Warriors are a championship-level team currently, they could always get better. Perhaps they could do so by trading for Kevin Durant, whom they have been linked with since he requested a trade.
In this article, we cover three trade packages for Kevin Durant that the Golden State Warriors will send out. It must be noted that to accept any package involving Andrew Wiggins, the Nets would have to trade away Ben Simmons to another franchise due to CBA rules involving Designated Rookie max extensions. Without further ado, here are the best trade packages to move Kevin Durant back to the Golden State Warriors.
Trade Package No. 3
Golden State Warriors Receive: Kevin Durant, Joe Harris, Seth Curry
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Jordan Poole
This trade package would get the Golden State Warriors Kevin Durant, along with some elite shooters in Joe Harris and Seth Curry. However, they would have to move both Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green, alongside an elite sixth man in Jordan Poole.
The benefit of this trade for the Golden State Warriors is easy to see: they would be able to add Kevin Durant while keeping elite young prospects like Jonathan Kuminga, James Wiseman, and Moses Moody. However, they would lose three key players that helped them win this year’s championship, and have to take on Joe Harris’ contract.
With that being said, Kevin Durant is much better individually than Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, and Jordan Poole, and he would make the Golden State Warriors clear favorites for the championship once again. Joe Harris and Seth Curry are also elite players who can contribute. A trio of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Draymond Green would be unstoppable, and as they age, the young talent on the squad could slowly get bigger roles and help them win more rings. Overall, this package seems like it could let the Golden State Warriors create an elite big three now, while also retaining their future.
Trade Package No. 2
Golden State Warriors Receive: Kevin Durant
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Draymond Green, Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, 2026 First Round Pick (GSW), 2028 First-Round Pick (GSW)
This trade package would be centered around Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga, and draft compensation, and it is clear that this is a package that would get the Nets two young players and draft compensation. The Brooklyn Nets were known as an elite development squad in the past, and perhaps they could develop Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga into elite players on their franchise. Draymond Green’s contract would be sent out for salary matching purposes: perhaps they could end up trading him to a third team to get more assets as well.
This trade package would give the Golden State Warriors Kevin Durant, while not forcing them to give up too much depth. They would also not have to take on any extra contracts in this trade. Most notably, they’d get to keep All-Star Andrew Wiggins, who was key during their playoff run this year with his two-way play.
Overall, this trade would let the Golden State Warriors give up some draft compensation in a Kevin Durant trade rather than a player like James Wiseman. Of course, losing Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga would hurt, but they would still have other good young players on the roster and would be adding an elite superstar in Kevin Durant.
Trade Package No. 1
Golden State Warriors Receive: Kevin Durant
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, James Wiseman
This trade package would be the best one from the Brooklyn Nets’ perspective. They’d get an All-Star in Andrew Wiggins and a great combo guard in Jordan Poole, as well as Jonathan Kuminga and James Wiseman, both of whom are former top-10 picks and have plenty of potential due to their skillset and athleticism.
There is no doubt that the Brooklyn Nets need a combination of win-now players who can contribute immediately and future prospects in a Kevin Durant package. Their picks are going to go to the Houston Rockets in the next few years, and that means that they need to stay competitive. Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole would help keep them afloat while still being young enough to be part of the future, while Jonathan Kuminga and James Wiseman could also develop, and eventually make the Nets into an elite playoff team.
The Golden State Warriors would be getting Kevin Durant without giving up any of their original big three in this scenario, and that would likely be the optimal option for them. Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson have won two championships together, and with this trade, perhaps they could win many more. The best teams are always looking to get better, and Kevin Durant would absolutely make the Warriors even better, perhaps even unstoppable.
