I could have names this article Kevin Durant to the LA Clippers part 2. Because just yesterday I was writing about how the most likely landing spot for Kevin Durant is the Los Angeles Clippers. Then last night Kyrie Irving and Russell Westbrook were BLOWING UP on Social Media with the quote, “Lakers and Nets are ACTIVELY engaged in trade talks for Kyrie and Westbrook. And I asked myself WHY would BK make this trade. It makes absolutely no sense. Even if Westbrook hadn’t just came off his worse season of his career, putting Simmons and Westbrook together is even more mismatched than LBJ and Westbrook. At least LBJ has a solid outside shot.
Then I thought about it again, and the word ACTIVELY came to mind. When a trade happens there is never a report that says 2 teams are actively talking. There is a WOJ or Shams Bomb on Twitter and that’s it. When they say the teams are actively talking about trades. That means the 2 teams talked, and nothing came up out of it.
Then I just did a simple analyses of Kyrie best fits and trade partners that would bring BK the best package, and Kyrie to the Clippers made the most sense. For most teams giving up too much for Kyrie as a 1 year rental wouldn’t be smart. But the Clippers have a great shot of extending him, with him playing in LA alongside Durant and Leonard. And there it is, a championship team in LA for the foreseeable future. Did you know the Kyrie and Kawhi were drafted the same year? And with Easy Money Snipers skillset he should be able to play at a high level for at least 5 more years. This trade could bring the first ever NBA Championship to the Clipper organization. But some Clipper fans don’t want to mortgage the future just to win a NBA Championship. OMG the ignorance you read on the internet.
How about the Nets? This sets the Nets up real nice to compete now, and in the future. Brooklyn would be receiving: Paul George, Reggie Jackson, Norman Powell, Ivaca Zuabc, Terrance Mann, Brandon Boston Jr., and 3 future 1st round picks. With Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Joe Harris, Royce O’neal, Bic Claxton, and more on the squad this gives the Nets plenty of depth, or an option to make another trade with all these players. The roster currently constructed after this blockbuster trade would for sure be a playoff team, and if Ben Simmons is playing at pre Atlanta Hawks playoff series self, I would put no team in the East as a definite favorite over this Nets ball club.
You never know, this trade could have the Clippers and the Nets competing for the 2023 NBA Championship. Only TIME will tell.
If you have a better overall trade package PLEASE leave it in the comments of the video below:
