The trading market of the two giants is polarized.
With Kevin Durant taking the initiative to apply for a trade to the team, the former favorites Nets can basically declare disintegration and enter the stage of rebuilding the team. There is no doubt that as a rare top NBA player, Durant's market value is impeccable. No matter which team gets him, the team's lower limit is absolutely guaranteed. According to a famous NBA reporter, more than half of the teams in the league have maintained a positive and optimistic attitude towards the introduction of Durant. Among them are the Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat and Boston Celtics.
However, Durant just signed a four-year contract last season and had almost no initiative in the transaction process. Where the next stop will be depends on whether the Nets can get a satisfactory return. . The Kyrie Irving , which had previously announced the implementation of player options, is no longer not for sale by the team, and has also been put on the shelf by the team. However, compared to the hot Durant, Irving's transaction value is obviously not that high. Before Irving made a decision on whether to implement the player option, the Lakers even made an offer for a mid-level contract to Irving.
New progress in Irving trade
But the current star Durant has already applied for a trade. It is inevitable that the Nets will send Irving away. According to a report by reporter Chris Haynes, the Los Angeles Lakers, who had previously maintained a strong interest in Irving, have once again contacted the Nets management to further discuss matters related to trading Irving and Westbrook. Although both sides are currently relatively optimistic about the deal reached during the offseason, there are still some inevitable obstacles. Sources revealed that compensation for draft assets has always been the focus of the Nets. They even hope to package Joe Harris and send them all to the Los Angeles Lakers.
However, as a player who has just experienced an ankle injury, Harris still has a contract worth $38.6 million in the next two years. In terms of the Lakers' current salary space and lineup situation, sending Westbrook, getting Irving, whose professional attitude needs time to be proven, and Harris, whose recovery status is still unknown, is obviously a big gamble. Even if James and thick eyebrows both hope that Irving will join, they must also consider the team's tolerance and controllability to deal with future emergencies.
Whether you are willing to admit it or not, in terms of career attitude, the hard-working Westbrook is definitely a few steps ahead of Irving. The Lakers used this argument to argue. While refusing to acquire Joe Harris, they also offered the Nets a certain amount of additional bargaining chips to acquire outside marksman Seth Curry.
The Nets are in trouble
In fact, the Lakers are now able to confidently ask for sky-high prices, mainly because they clearly see the current precarious situation of the Nets. With Durant leaving the team, it doesn't make much sense for Irving to stay in the team. It would be better to tear down and rebuild in exchange for the team's chips for future growth. The lineup lasted for three seasons, and the best result the Nets achieved was just the Eastern Conference semifinals. During this period, the Nets overdrafted too many future draft picks and gave away the team's young and immediate strength.
sent away Durant and Irving, and the Nets' situation may not be so bad. However, according to the 15% trade deposit clause in Irving's contract, the Nets will have to pay him $5.55 million in compensation when they choose to trade him. They sold their superstar players at a low price and had to pay extra compensation. It can be said that the Nets lost both their wives and their troops, which is a tragedy.
