Assuming Williamson returns healthy, the Pelicans would have a great trio. Brandon Ingram and the recently-acquired C.J. New Orleans’ playoff run this past season surprised the masses given Zion Williamson’s injury and how they started the campaign.
Nets get: Jonas Valanciunas, Devonte’ Graham, Larry Nance Jr., 8th pick, future 1st-round pick.Following an injury-plagued 2021-22 season, that very well could be what general manager Lawrence Frank opts to do.ĥ NBA Draft trades we could see during the 2022 event Kyrie Irving trade to the New Orleans Pelicans Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports Los Angeles’ decision to deal expiring contracts for Norman Powell at the NBA trade deadline gives the team more flexibility to find another star to go with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Nets get: Norman Powell, Marcus Morris, Terance Mann, multiple 2nd-round picks.Related: Kyrie Irving and NBA’s highest-paid players Kyrie Irving trade to the Los Angeles Clippers Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports Reggie Bullock also provides Brooklyn with a bench option in the frontcourt while the Nets acquire multiple first-round picks to go with the two they got from the Philadelphia 76ers in the Harden-Simmons blockbuster. Even if Ben Simmons does return, Brunson would be a great addition to go with Durant. He averaged 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists on 50% shooting. 2 role behind Doncic this past regular season. Most notably, the Nets want to move Joe Harris, who has two years and $38.6 million remaining on his contract and is coming off ankle surgery, while the Lakers are pushing to get Seth Curry instead.As for the Nets, they add a still-young 25-year-old Brunson who stepped into a No. Furthermore, the teams apparently don't agree on the other players to be involved. If they can get Irving, though, it may be worth the price. The Lakers are also out a bunch of future draft picks via the Anthony Davis deal, and were previously unwilling to attach future first-round picks to move Westbrook. Per Haynes, draft compensation is currently one of the biggest sticking points in completing a trade, which could be a reason this potential trade hasn't gained any traction. In particular, the Nets will be eager to acquire some draft picks given how many they owe the Houston Rockets in the coming years via the James Harden trade. There really aren't any basketball situations that make sense, but the Nets are in a bad spot after the Durant trade request, and might be willing to take Westbrook on as an expiring contract if they can move Irving and coax some concessions out of the Lakers. Plus, there's the fact that he's well past his prime, but still needs the ball in his hands the majority of the time to be effective at all. He recently opted into the final year of his contract, which is worth $47 million, which makes a trade tricky from a logistical perspective. Of course, trading Westbrook is much easier said than done the Lakers have been trying to do so since the middle of last season, just months after they originally acquired him. "If Kevin Durant is on the first train out, Kyrie Irving will be on the caboose as far as the Nets are concerned," Brian Windhorst reported last week. It's been widely considered the All-Star guard will be moved as well. Irving recently opted into the final year of his deal worth $36.4 million, but after his star teammate Kevin Durant requested a trade from the Nets. However, Charania said Tuesday he's not sure we will see a deal that sends Irving to the Lakers as the Nets continue to try and find the best value in trades for both Irving and Kevin Durant. The Lakers are one of Irving's preferred suitors if he were to be traded from the Brooklyn Nets, and previous reports suggested a potential deal could be done that would involve swapping Irving and Russell Westbrook, according to Chris Haynes. The Kyrie Irving saga continues to take several twists and turns, and the latest information suggests there's no traction in a potential trade that would send Irving to the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Shams Charania.