Trade packages for NBA superstars on the trading block

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Aug 13, 2022
4 min read

Going into this offseason, NBA fans weren't expecting much action. The free agent class was below average, and most of the top guys were expected to re-sign with their former teams. But the trade market has made this offeason crazy, and with recent trade rumors involving superstars like Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell it is expected to get even crazier. However, Rudy Gobert's trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves for 5 first round picks and multiple young assets changed the game for teams asking prices. The Nets and Jazz now expect to receive at least 6 first round picks and an array of high level young talent for their star players, a price that's too high for most teams. In this article, we will examine trades for NBA stars that could live up to these high asking prices, while also being fair for both sides.

Kevin Durant

Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets on June 30th, 2022. Since then, there hasn't really been any significant news regarding a trade. Last week he had a meeting with the Nets owner where he reiterated his trade request. He told the owner that he would have to choose between Durant and the current general manager and coaching staff. A few hours after, the owner tweeted that he had trust in his GM and coaching staff, making it likely that Durant will be traded before the season. Almost every team around the league is interested, but the asking price is very, very high. They asked the Timberwolves for Anthony Edwards in a trade request, and the Pelicans for Brandon Ingram and multiple first round picks. If a team wants to trade for Durant they have to be committed to winning a championship in the next couple years. Durant has said that he wants to be traded to the Suns, Celtics, Heat, or 76ers, but not all these teams have the pieces to make a deal. Durant is a top 5 player in the league, so the Nets have lots of leverage in trade negotiations.

Boston Celtics

Nets trade Kevin Durant to the Celtics for Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, 3 unprotected first round picks, 3 first round pick swaps

Toronto Raptors

Nets trade Kevin Durant and Joe Harris to the Raptors for Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr, Precious Achiuwa, Malachi Flynn, 2 unprotected first round picks, 3 first round pick swaps, 3 second round picks

Pheonix Suns, Indiana Pacers 3 teamer

Suns receive: Kevin Durant and Buddy Hield

Pacers receive: Deandre Ayton and Joe Harris

Nets receive: Mikal Bridges, Myles Turner, Cam Johnson, Landry Shamet, 4 first round picks, 4 first round pick swaps

Donovan Mitchell

After the Utah Jazz traded Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves a Donovan Mitchell trade immediately became inevitable. With their current roster, they won't be a championship contender for another 3-5 years, and it's better to tank now than waste more of Mitchell's career. Reports have come out that Donovan Mitchell doesn't trust the front office to build around him for the future. Last month, the Knicks came close to making a deal, but decided the asking price was too high. The Jazz are looking for an array of young players and around 6 first round picks, a price that only a limited amount of teams can match. The expectation is that the Knicks and Jazz will eventually compromise and agree to a deal that's more even for both sides, or a team that's desperate to become a championship contender will step up and meet the asking price. The 4 teams that have shown interest, and have the assets, are the Knicks, Heat, Hornets, and Wizards.

New York Knicks

Jazz trade Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gay to the New York Knicks for Immanuel Quickley, Cam Reddish, Evan Fournier, Obi Toppin, Quentin Grimes, Mavericks 2023 first round pick, Pistons 2023 first round pick, Bucks 2025 first round pick, 3 first round pick swaps

Charlotte Hornets

Jazz trade Donovan Mitchell and Bojan Bogdanovic to the Hornets for Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, PJ Washington, James Bouknight, Denver 2023 first round pick, Hornets 2024 first round pick, Hornets 2026 first round pick, Hornets 2027 first round pick

Washington Wizards

Jazz trade Donovan Mitchell to the Washington Wizards for Will Barton, Rui Hachimura, Corey Kispert, Johnny Davis, Hornets 2023 first round pick, Wizards 2025 first round pick, 3 first round pick swaps

Kyrie Irving

Although Kyrie Irving has come out and said that he has trust in the Brooklyn Nets, if Kevin Durant ends up getting traded, it is likely that Irving will be traded as well. Because of his dramatic NBA career, there's not much interest from around the league, especially not in a deal that would involve multiple first round picks. Irving had problems with injuries and a massive scandal involving the Coronavirus vaccine in his time on the Nets. In his 3 years with them he only played a total of 103 games. Trading for Kyrie Irving does not mean trading for 82 games of a full healthy Kyrie Irving, it's a big risk. But there are some desperate teams who really think he could turn them into championship contenders.

Los Angeles Lakers

Nets trade Kyrie Irving and Joe Harris to the Lakers for Russell Westbrook, Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn, and 2 first round picks

Minnesota Timberwolves

Nets trade Kyrie Irving to the Timberwolves for D'Angelo Russell, Taurean Prince, and a first round pick

Julius Randle

In 2021, Julius Randle carried the Knicks to a 4 seed and won the Most Improved Player award. But last year was tough for the Knicks star. After receiving a 4 year, $117 million dollar deal last offseason, he dropped his stats and had some issues with controlling his anger. He got in multiple fights with his teammates, and his relationship with coach Tom Thibodeau seems to get worse every day. The Jazz are not expected to be interested in Randle in a trade for Donovan Mitchell, so the Knicks will have to explore other options. Randle was on the block at the trade deadline last year and multiple teams showed interest.