MADRID, 9 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Forward Kevin Durant would have been transferred to the Phoenix Suns from the Brooklyn Nets, after the franchise also agreed to the departure of Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks this week, in a turbulent end of the market and with up to three teams and eight players as protagonists of a super move.
As published by the NBA on its website, Russel Westbrook would trade the Los Angeles Lakers for the Utah Jazz, and the Los Angeles franchise will recover guard D’Angelo Russell, from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The team led by a record-breaking LeBron James would also receive Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt on their roster, in a new opportunity to boost their performance, now below expectations (13th in the West).
In exchange, the Lakers would send the Jazz, in addition to Westbrook, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Damian Jones and their first-round pick in the 2027 draft. In addition, Minnesota, the third leading player in these last hours of a market which closes tonight at 9:00 p.m., would celebrate the arrival of Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker from Utah, along with three second-round draft picks, according to said media.
But the most relevant and unexpected transfer, according to ESPN, would be that of Kevin Durant, who would have asked to leave the Nets, who already lost Irving a few days ago, upset by the treatment of a “star” like him in Brooklyn, such and as he revealed in his presentation with the Mavericks. Now it would be the forward who would follow in his footsteps, forcing an exit to Phoenix, to share a dressing room with Chris Paul, DeAndre Ayton or Devin Booker.
Thus, the Nets would lose their two great stars and assets to try to go far in the ‘Playoffs’ this season, although in the deal with the Suns they would receive Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four first-round picks (2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029). Durant has been injured for a month, although he is averaging 30 points per game in the 39 games he has played this season.