The post Kevin Durant for the Brooklyn Nets has already begun. Practically simultaneously with KD’s trade request, the Nets closed a trade with the Utah Jazz.
In Brooklyn will come Roycee O’Neale while the Salt Lake City franchise receives in return a choice at the 2023 Draft.
Utah is trading Royce O’Neale to Brooklyn for a first-round pick, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
– Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022
Specifically, the pick traded by the Nets will be the least important first-round pick among theirs, Houston’s, and Philadelphia’s (to which Brooklyn holds the rights).
Brooklyn is sending the lesser of their own, Houston or Philadelphia’s 2023 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN.
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022
Clearly, O’Neale’s arrival cannot be even remotely compared to Durant’s upcoming farewell, but it is still a sign that the Nets are active in the market and probably expected this demand for KD’s divestment.
Utah, for its part, also formalized the cutting of Juancho Hernangomez and did not submit the qualifying bid to either Eric Paschall nor to Trent Forrest. Moves that, combined with O’Neale’s departure, free up a fair amount of salary space.
