Potential Durant trade destinations
SUNS: This is Kevin Durant’s purported top choice, but it may not be Nets GM Sean Marks’. Of course he’ll want Devin Booker, and maybe Mikail Bridges as well. But keeping Booker is a Suns priority, and he has inked a four-year, 224 million super max extension, which bars him from being dealt for a year. Phoenix would rather do a sign-and-trade for Deandre Ayton, which is nowhere near as tempting. He’s not as good, fits into base year compensation and a sign-and-trade would hard cap the Nets.
HEAT: Durant’s second-favorite spot. It’s easy to see why, with Pat Riley and the winning and the sun and the low taxes. But Jimmy Butler doesn’t fit a Nets rebuild, Tyler Herro isn’t enough and Bam Adebayo is a nonstarter because league rules keep teams from having more than one player on a designated rookie extension acquired via trade, and the Nets have Ben Simmons. Unless they move him …
PELICANS: Which brings us to New Orleans, where Marks would be welladvised to look. Zion Williamson (and picks) or Brandon Ingram (and players) are the kind of building blocks that should start discussions. The rub? Williamson can sign his rookie scale deal after midnight Thursday, thus keeping the Nets from dealing for him (or forcing them to move Simmons). It bears watching if the Pelicans hold off.
RAPTORS: Hey, trading for Kawhi Leonard worked out. And the Raptors have the pieces to put together a great package and stay competitive enough to please Durant. Start with Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes. Add some combination of OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet and picks — the Raptors have all of theirs — and it’s easy to see why Toronto could be in the mix.
CAVALIERS: While Denver can dangle Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., the Nets may not have the stomach for another player with a bad back who rarely plays. But Cleveland has a plethora of young talent to anchor a deal around in big man Evan Mobley, center Jarrett Allen (still beloved by Nets fans) and others to combine with much-needed picks.