Posted on: November 30, 2022, 11:59h.
Final up to date on: November 30, 2022, 12:58h.
Any crew that provides Kevin Durant in a commerce will grow to be an instantaneous betting favourite to win the 2022-23 NBA championship. However would the Brooklyn Nets significantly commerce Durant to a title contender just like the Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Warmth, Memphis Grizzlies, or defending champion Golden State Warriors?
Ahead OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors defends All-Star ahead Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets throughout a recreation at Scotia Financial institution Enviornment in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Picture: Getty)
Durant requested a commerce within the low season, however the Nets weren’t in any rush to deal their disgruntled celebrity. Durant and crew proprietor Joe Tsai hashed out some points, and Durant rescinded his commerce request. Nonetheless, after a lackluster begin to the season and no scarcity of Kyrie Irving drama, the Nets might commerce Durant initially of the brand new yr.
The Nets are at the moment 11-11 and sit in fourth place within the Atlantic Division. If the season had been to finish proper now, they’d qualify for the Japanese Convention Play-In Match because the #9 seed. Betting-wise, the Nets are 10-12 towards the unfold.
Regardless of a head teaching change and an 11-11 file, the Nets are +1100 odds to win the 2022-23 NBA championship. They’re the sixth-highest crew on DraftKings’ NBA futures board.
The Nets are +600 odds to win the Japanese Convention and safe a visit to the NBA Finals. Despite the fact that the Nets are in fourth place within the division and solely a half-game forward of the last-place New York Knicks, the Nets are +1400 odds to win the Atlantic because the second favourite on the board.
Phoenix Suns: Durant, CP3, and Booker
The Suns had been probably the greatest groups from the Western Convention over the past two seasons. They went on a deep run within the 2021 playoffs and secured a visit to the 2021 NBA Finals, however misplaced to Giannis “Greek Freak” Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. The Suns had the perfect file within the NBA final season however had been upset by the Dallas Mavericks within the Western Convention semifinals due to an embarrassing Sport 7 collapse.
Level guard Chris Paul isn’t getting any youthful and it’s solely a matter of time earlier than an harm sidelines him or he chokes within the postseason as soon as once more. The Suns want a dependable veteran to get buckets in crunch time, except for capturing guard Devin Booker.
The Suns prolonged heart Deandre Ayton’s contract, however they’ve to attend till December 15 to incorporate him in any commerce discussions. There’s the Designated Rookie Rule during which a crew can’t add a rookie max-contract participant in the event that they have already got one on the roster. That’s the case with the Nets, who have already got Simmons on the roster. In the event that they wish to add Ayton in a commerce for Durant, they’d must commerce Simmons first.
Simmons missed 5 video games this season, and he’s anticipated to overlook a few extra video games with a knee harm. Simmons averages a career-low 8.4 factors, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per recreation with the Nets. His subpar numbers within the first quarter of the season imply the Nets must take an enormous hit in the event that they wish to commerce him.
The Suns had been on Durant’s preliminary commerce checklist from his summer season request. The Suns thought-about sending Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, Cam Johnson, and a number of draft picks to the Nets in a commerce for Durant.
Philadelphia 76ers: Durant Reunites with Harden
The banged-up 76ers need assistance in the event that they count on to win the Japanese Convention and get previous robust groups just like the Bucks and Celtics. Joel Embiid has been nursing a foot harm after having plantar fasciitis in the summertime.
The 76ers misplaced their beginning backcourt to a few foot accidents. James Harden has been out for a few weeks with a sprained foot tendon. The 76ers just lately misplaced level guard Tyrese Maxey for a minimum of a month with a fractured foot.
The 76ers coughed up draft picks to amass Harden in a commerce with the Nets for Ben Simmons, to allow them to solely supply a package deal that features Maxey, Tobias Harris, and Matisse Thybulle. The Nets need draft capital and younger gamers in alternate for Durant, however the 76ers can’t meet the Nets’ wants. Harden and Durant performed collectively twice earlier than with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and the Nets. It looks as if a pipe dream that the 2 will reunite a 3rd time with the 76ers.
Golden State Warriors: KD and Splash Brothers Reprise
The Warriors are struggling proper now with an 11-11 file. They appear nothing just like the squad that received the championship in June. The Warriors received back-to-back titles with Durant in 2016-17 and 2017-18 earlier than he signed with the Nets in free company. The transfer to Brooklyn is one thing that Durant received’t publicly say he regrets, however you all know concerning the grass wanting greener on the opposite aspect of the fence.
Within the low season, the Warriors and Nets mentioned a Durant commerce that may ship him again to the Bay Space. The Nets turned down the Warriors’ supply that included former #1 choose Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, and a number of draft picks.
The Warriors wish to hold Wiggins, who emerged as a shutdown defender throughout their championship run final season. They produce other gamers to incorporate in a commerce package deal for Durant, like Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, and James Wiseman.
Toronto Raptors: Durant North of the Border
In the course of the low season, the Raptors emerged as a betting favourite to amass Durant in a commerce with the Nets. The Raptors had a great mixture of gifted younger prospects and draft capital. On the time, OG Anunoby wished out of Toronto after his taking part in time diminished with the rise of Rookie of the 12 months Scottie Barnes.
The Nets had been eager on Barnes, however the Raptors indicated he was off the desk in any deal for Durant. Huge Man Pascal Siakim had his title talked about in commerce rumors, together with rookie Christian Koloko, Chris Boucher, and Anunonby.
Miami Warmth: KD Goes to South Seashore
Pat Riley is aware of the Warmth are one big-time participant away from profitable one other championship. Jimmy Butler wants assist, and a banged-up Kyle Lowry may very well be a legal responsibility within the postseason, much like final yr’s playoffs when he nursed a hamstring harm.
The Warmth have a handful of younger prospects that the Nets would settle for in a hybrid deal for Durant that features draft picks and gamers. The Nets like Tyler Herro, however the Warmth wish to hold final yr’s Sixth Man of the 12 months. The Nets would love to amass massive man Bam Adebayo, however he’s additionally off the desk.
Max Strus, Duncan Robinson, Ömer Yurtseven, and rookie Nikola Jovic had been all talked about in Durant commerce rumors over the summer season.
Memphis Grizzlies: The KD and Ja Present
The Memphis Grizzlies are one of the crucial thrilling groups within the NBA, due to level guard Ja Morant and the emergence of Desmond Bane. They’ve a robust solid of supporting gamers, however they’re missing a giant man and extra playmaker to grow to be a legit title menace.
Jaren Jackson, Jr. missed the beginning of the season whereas recovering from surgical procedure to restore a stress fracture in his foot, however he’s lastly again within the beginning lineup. The Grizzlies haven’t any need to incorporate Jackson, Morant, or Bane in any commerce for Durant.
In the course of the low season, the Grizzlies supplied 5 first-round draft picks to the Nets plus Brandon Clarke and Ziaire Williams for Durant. The Nets turned down the Grizzlies earlier than the preseason started, however a minimum of they know that the Grizzlies had been severe about their pursuit of Durant in a possible blockbuster commerce.
