Bleacher Report Suggests Massive Haul to Land Kevin Durant
The Phoenix Suns have been in pursuit of Kevin Durant for weeks now, and the Brooklyn Nets have yet to bite.
Reports and rumors have flown like crazy as information has leaked about potential negotiations. Brooklyn reportedly wants two All-Stars in return for their superstar forward while the Suns have excluded Mikal Bridges in any package mentioned to the Nets.
It's a battle to see who blinks first, and the Suns aren't the only team fighting for Durant. The Miami Heat were one of two top personal destinations for Durant, and other squads such as Toronto and Golden State have also been mentioned as possibilities as well.
What will it take to land Durant in the Valley? Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz recently compiled five risky NBA trades that could actually work, which included Phoenix sending a massive haul to get a deal done with Brooklyn.
Suns Send Massive Package to Land Durant
Phoenix Suns Receive: F Kevin Durant
Brooklyn Nets Receive: SF Mikal Bridges, PF Cameron Johnson, PF Jae Crowder, 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029 unprotected first-round picks, 2028 first-round pick swap rights, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029 second-round picks
"The Suns matching an offer sheet to bring back Deandre Ayton means a trade for Durant is dead, right?
"It certainly shouldn't be, as Phoenix can still cobble enough salaries together along with a massive collection of draft picks to offer for the 33-year-old superstar.
"A core of Durant, Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Ayton is easily the best in the NBA and would be the favorites to win titles for the foreseeable future. All would also be under contract for the next three years or more.
"The Suns would still have enough role players to fill around its stars (Landry Shamet, Cameron Payne, Dario Saric, Torrey Craig, Damion Lee, Bismack Biyombo, Josh Okogie), even if there wouldn't be many future picks to upgrade the roster.
"Obviously, the trade market for Durant isn't what the Nets would have hoped for, or else a deal would have been done by now, meaning a package headlined by Bridges, Johnson and a boatload of picks could be the best offer the Nets may get.
"Bridges, 25, is one of the elite wing defenders in the NBA and under contract for the next four years. Johnson, 26, is coming off a career-best season (12.5 points on 42.5 percent shooting from three) and has one year remaining on his rookie deal before becoming a restricted free agent.
"Neither represents the All-Star player return the Nets are probably hoping for, but Phoenix can make up for that in draft selections.
"Brooklyn receives four completely unprotected first-round picks, the right to swap a first-rounder and another seven second-round selections, bringing the pick control total to 12 overall.
"This gives the Nets a roster that still features enough talent to compete for a playoff spot in the East this season and the draft capital necessary to go chase a star when one becomes available."
Will the Nets ultimately wait to see a package like this unfold before accepting? Time will tell, but this trade haul would certainly signal Phoenix pushing all their chips to the middle of the table
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