A lot has happened since we last spoke. A trade request of epic proportions, a pair of massive trades, multiple $200+ million contract extension, other trades that affect the league, and of course free agent signings. It has been a hectic weekend in the National Basketball Association.
Let’s start with Kevin Durant asking for a trade. This was earth shattering for the league, the disaster result for the Nets, and shook me to my very core. Durant is a top 5 player in the league, was an MVP candidate last season before he got hurt, and has 4 years left on his contract. He will likely demand one of the biggest trade returns in the history of the NBA, especially after the Gobert deal (more on that later) and the trade will shift the balance of power in the league. Durant reportedly wants to be traded to the Suns or Heat but I think the most likely suitors are the Suns or Raptors, as I do not think Miami has enough to get a trade done. So what could those packages look like? For the Raptors it starts with Scottie Barnes, who just won Rookie of the Year, who they can package with Gary Trent Jr., Khem Birch, and Thad Young (who is eligible to be traded even though he just signed a new contract), along with draft assets, maybe 3 picks and 2 swaps. It would immediately make Toronto a title contender with Durant, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and Pascal Siakam, led by a coach who has proven he can lead a team to a championship. A Phoenix package could look like a Deandre Ayton sign and trade, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, 3 unprotected picks, and 4 pick swaps. You ask if Kevin Durant is worth all this stuff and as ESPN’s Zach Lowe would say “he’s Kevin freakin’ Durant.” Meaning, yes he is worth it.
Let’s shift to Minnesota where the Timberwolves acquired 3 time All-Star and 3 time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz for Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverly, Jarred Vanderbilt, Walker Kessler, Leandro Bolmaro, 4 first round picks (3 unprotected), and a pick swap. It is a massive haul for the Jazz and new lead basketball executive Danny Ainge, who now restores the Jazz draft assets with this trade and the Royce O’Neale trade, to either retool this roster around Donovan Mitchell or trade Mitchell and enter a full fledged rebuild. Utah is not done making deals and they now have a lot of ways they can take this roster. For the Timberwolves this is a massive risk and likely an overpay. However, Gobert is an awesome player, and a front court of Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns is one that should be really effective. Yes, they will have their issues guarding in space and yes going small is not an option in the playoffs but these issues are overblown in my opinion. Last season, Minnesota was 13th in defense, and yes losing Beverly and Vanderbilt hurts that but adding not only Gobert but Kyle Anderson as well gives the Wolves a legit chance to be a top 5 defense in basketball, which is important considering last year’s 2 finals teams were best 2 teams defensively in the regular season. It also provides D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards with the best screener in the NBA for pick and rolls. The Timberwolves knew they had to build off of last season and that they needed to improve their roster to do so leading to this Gobert trade. It is a massive gamble, frankly one I do not think I would have made, but it should be intriguing to watch to see how this all fits together.
The Hawks and Spurs also agreed to a blockbuster trade as the Spurs sent Dejounte Murray and Jock Landale (who they flipped to the Suns) to the Hawks in exchange for Danilo Gallinari, 3 first round picks (2 unprotected), and a pick swap. San Antonio acquired the Hawks 2025 and 2027 picks and a pick swap in 2026. I do not love this deal for either side. For the Spurs, Murray will be 26 come opening night and has 2 years left on a team friendly contract, he will hit free agency in 2024 as it would be silly to extend off of his current contract, so that is partly why the Spurs did it. However, the Spurs got 0 players back that they’ll keep, as Gallinari will be waived, and that concerns me. They are betting against a team that now has 2 elite guards in their backcourt and has a lot of talent around those 2 players. For the Hawks, Murray and Young instantly become an elite backcourt, and I am not concerned about the fit as I think that they can figure out ways to play together as they are both extremely skilled players. Again trading unprotected picks that far into the future scares me, especially when you are not a serious title contender and I do not believe the Hawks are a championship contender. The Bucks and Celtics are the class of the conference and the Hawks are not as good as either of those teams, I also believe the Heat are better as well, not to mention should Kevin Durant end up in Toronto or Miami, though if a few things go their way, like they did in 2021, they could get back to the conference finals. Although it is not as much as the Wolves sent to the Jazz, Murray is not as good as Gobert and it is still a good amount of draft capital.
Let’s dive into the extensions that were signed over the past few days. There is not much to talk about with guys like Devin Booker, Nikola Jokic, Ja Morant, and Zach LaVine because those are players that are worth the money they signed for. Also, players like Karl-Anthony Towns and Darius Garland may be a bit overpaid but they are certainly good enough to justify the contract. One contract that made me wince was Bradley Beal’s 5yr/$251 million dollar extension with the Wizards that will pay him $57.1 million in 2027. That could be an awful number by then as Beal will be 33 by then and could be out of his prime. Washington could do what the Clippers did and trade Beal at the deadline, similarly to what LA did with Blake Griffin back in 2018 after signing him to a 5 year deal the previous summer but I think the Wizards will have this contract on their books for the next 5 years. Zion Williamson has proven that when he is on the court he is absolutely worth $200+ million with averages of 25.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, on a field goal percentage of 60% for his career. The issue is, out of a possible 226 games, Williamson has played in 85 games, which is only 38%. So the question is committing $193 million worth it, I think if you add injury protections to it, it is. New Orleans is not attracting big free agents and they will go as far as Williamson takes them so I think the Pelicans extending Williamson is the right decision.
There were some other trades made over the past few days as well. Let’s start with Washington trading Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith to the Nuggets for Monte Morris and Will Barton. I like this deal for both sides as the Wizards get 2 rotation players for 1 rotation player and 1 fringe rotation player, which is always good business. For the Nuggets, Barton had been horrible in the playoffs the last couple of seasons and with the emergence of Bones Hyland and return of Jamal Murray, there was no longer a need for Morris so adding KCP is a good trade. Also, if/when Ish Smith plays a game for the Nuggets he will become the player who has played for the most teams in NBA history at 13, which is cool. The Celtics and Pacers agreed to a trade that sent Malcolm Brogdan to the Celtics in exchange for Aaron Nesmith, Daniel Theis, Malik Fitts, Nik Stauskas, Juwan Morgan, and a 2023 first round pick. This is a steal for Boston, Brogdon is 29 years old and has 3 years left on his contract and though he has had injury concerns, he is a player who is exactly what the Celtics need, a ball mover, who hits shots, can create for himself and others, and plays excellent defense. It is a home run addition for Boston. For Indiana they take a flier on a young player in Nesmith, add a first round pick, and hand the keys of the offense to Tyrese Haliburton. The last trade I’ll be diving into is the Kings and Hawks trade that sent Kevin Huerter to Sacramento for Justin Holiday, Moe Harkless, and a protected first round pick. I like this return for Atlanta a lot, Justin Holiday is a serviceable player who will help them survive in the regular season, something they failed to do last season and though it is a protected pick, there is a hope that Sacramento will be out of the bottom of the NBA by 2024 thus this is a good return for the Hawks, who had to trade Huerter. For the Kings it adds a player that fits the timeline of De’Aaron Fox, who came on really strong at the end of last season, and Domantas Sabonis. Huerter is a good 3 and D player, who can both guard well and shoots well from 3 point range at 39% last season, so he is an actual 3 and D player, not one people claim is a 3 and D player but is missing either the 3 or D. Overall I think this is a win-win trade for both sides.
The last thing I want to dive into is some of the free agent contracts that have been signed over the last few days. Let’s start with the Knicks and Jalen Brunson agreeing to a 4yr/$104 million deal. Brunson is a really good player, had a really good regular season for Dallas last season and then lit the Jazz up in the first round of the playoffs. The $26 million per year number does not scare me because Brunson is just 25 years old, has a lot of room to grow, and the Knicks have been searching for a true point guard for what feels like forever, so I like this move. P.J. Tucker signed a 3 year deal worth $33.2 million with the 76ers to reunite with old Rockets GM Daryl Morrey and old Rockets teammate James Harden. Tucker will help the Sixers with his defense and ability to hit corner 3’s, not to mention he is coming from conference rival Miami, leading to this being a good move for the Sixers. The Warriors lost a pair of key players in the form of Gary Payton II, who signed a 3yr/$28 million deal with Portland, and Otto Porter Jr., who signed a 2 year contract with Toronto. Both players will help their new teams in a lot of different ways as Payton is a great defensive stopper and Porter shot 40% from 3 point range in the playoffs as the Warriors won their 4th title since 2015. Golden State was able to keep Kevon Looney and added Donte DiVincenzo so that will help them heading into their title defense next season. The Lakers added a bunch of young unproven players after signing older players who were past their prime last season, which did not go over well. Most notably the Lakers added Lonnie Walker from the Spurs and Juan Toscano-Anderson from the Warriors. Malik Monk signed with the Kings which provides them with an offensive punch. John Wall signed with the Clippers giving them a change of pace player who will be their best passer. JaVale McGee heads to Dallas giving them a center who can rebound and protect the rim. Bruce Brown signed with the Nuggets giving them some defense off of their bench. Danilo Gallinari will sign with the Celtics once he is waived by the Spurs giving them scoring off of the bench. Joe Ingles gives the Bucks some shooting and playmaking off of their bench. Finally, Bobby Portis, Mitchell Robinson, Tyus Jones, Lu Dort, Victor Oladipo, Chris Boucher, Anfernee Simons, Jae’Sean Tate and Jusuf Nurkic all got nice raises to re-sign with their previous teams.
It has been a crazy weekend and yet the biggest domino has yet to fall. A Kevin Durant trade would likely lead to a number of other players like Kyrie Irving and Deandre Ayton, finding new homes. It should be a fun week and league changing week ahead in the NBA.
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