I made the most ridiculous potential trade of the NBA's 2022 Free Agency
- Matthew Irungu
- Jul 5, 2022
- 5 min read
It's far from perfect...but it works. The trade would be between four high-caliber NBA teams: the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns and the Utah Jazz. The trade would involve 12 players. I didn't make it thinking it's amazing and every team would be super down for it because it can be seen as unrealistic in some ways, which is why I called it ridiculous but I also love it because it's entirely doable.
TRADE DETAILS
LAKERS RECEIVE
KYRIE IRVING
SETH CURRY
NETS RECEIVE
RUSSELL WESTBROOK
TALEN HORTON TUCKER
CAM JOHNSON
DARIO SARIC
LANDRY SHAMET
BOJAN BOGDANOVIC
LAKERS 2027 1ST ROUND PICK
LAKERS 2029 1ST ROUND PICK
SUNS 2025 1ST ROUND PICK
SUNS 2026 2ND ROUND PICK
SUNS 2027 1ST ROUND PICK
SUNS 2029 1ST ROUND PICK
SUNS RECEIVE
KEVIN DURANT
RUDY GAY
JARED BUTLER
JAZZ RECEIVE
DEANDRE AYTON
The interwoven trade sees the Lakers acquiring 2 must-needed scorers and deep threats, the Nets receiving a haul of 6 players, 5 1st round picks and a second-rounder, the Suns receiving 2 solid role players and arguably the best player in the world in Kevin Durant and the Jazz receiving a star in Deandre Ayton, replacing the recently traded Rudy Gobert.
TRADE STEPS A.K.A HOW IT WORKS.......
Russell Westbrook opts into his $47M player option for the upcoming NBA season
Kyrie Irving opts into his $37M player option for the upcoming NBA season
Lakers trade Russell Westbrook, THT and 2 1st round picks for Kyrie Irving and Seth Curry (*Not yet successful, Nets must cut $434K from incoming trade value*)
Suns trade Cam Johnson, Dario Saric, Landry Shamet, 3 1st round picks and a 2nd Rounder for Kevin Durant (could potentially trade Torrey Craig instead of Cam Johnson as well; *Not yet successful because the Suns would have to cut $13.2M from incoming trade value*)
Nets are now relieved of that $434K
Deandre Ayton sign and trade: 4-year, $131M contract; traded to the Jazz
Suns now relieved of that $13.2M
Jazz must cut $32.6M from incoming trade value
Jazz trade Bojan Bogdanovic to the Nets; Rudy Gay and Jared Butler to the Suns
TEAM BY TEAM BREAKDOWN
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
The Lakers 2021-2022 season was a disaster. Anybody who watched even a single Laker game could see that the roster they had would never truly contend for a title that year. In addition, the fit between Russell Westbrook, LeBron James and Anthony Davis wasn't natural or going to magically work. In 21 games played together, the trio had an offensive rating of 107.1, defensive rating of 110.6 and a net rating of -3.5.
By trading for Kyrie Irving, the Lakers acquire a much needed scorer who can create his own shot and hurt you from any part of the floor, something the team lacked with Westbrook. By trading for Seth Curry, the Lakers acquire a bonafide fantastic shooter who can be relied on heavily and has playoff experience. Trading for Curry also does Brooklyn a favor as they have hesitated in possibly trading Joe Harris, who's respected within the organization.
POTENTIAL STARTING LINEUP
PG: Kyrie Irving
SG: Seth Curry
SF: Stanley Johnson
PF: LeBron James
C: Anthony Davis
Notable Reserves: Austin Reaves, Kendrick Nunn, Damian Jones
NEGATIVES
The trade would require LA to give up 2 future 1st round picks, something they are hesitant in doing
Kyrie's reliability is a valid concern (health and availability as a player wise)
Not guaranteed Kyrie comes back next year. Is he worth giving up 2 1st round picks for a one year run?
They are far more desperate for a Russ trade than the Nets are in shipping Kyrie
BROOKLYN NETS
The Nets season and offseason have been utter chaos. From having a "three headed monster" of KD, Kyrie and Harden to trading Harden to Philly and acquiring Ben Simmons, Simmons being unavailable to play in the playoffs, getting swept by the Boston Celtics in the 1st round and where we are now in Kyrie and KD both forcing their hand to try and find new cities to play in.
It's a players league, so when star players ask for a trade, it's usually not a matter of if but when they get traded and it's mostly favorable.
For example, Kawhi Leonard's trade request from the Spurs landed him in Toronto, where he went on to win Finals MVP and an NBA Championship in that very season. James Harden wanted out in Houston and in Brooklyn and got his exact wishes granted both times.
Nonetheless, trades are being sent the way of the Brooklyn front office. Whether or not some actually come to fruition is still developing, but the most likely trade that WILL happen is a package of Kyrie to the Lakers and Russ to the Nets. In my interwoven trade, the Nets receive a considerable haul for trading away Kyrie, Seth and KD, by recouping 6 solid NBA talents and 6 draft picks.
By doing this trade, the Nets can still maintain a solid roster and have their hand in first rounders for the future.
POTENTIAL STARTING LINEUP
PG: Russell Westbrook
SG: Bojan Bogdanovic
SF: Royce O'Neal
PF: Ben Simmons
C: Nic Claxton
Notable Reserves: Joe Harris, Patty Mills, Cam Johnson, Landry Shamet
NEGATIVES
Kyrie Irving's market is very shallow, if a deal can't be done with LA then a deal may not be done at all
Rudy Gobert was recently traded to the Timberwolves for a package of 5 players, 4 1st round picks and a pick swap. A package like that for a player who isn't even close to the caliber of KD means the Nets may be looking at a otherworldly asking price for the superstar. An asking price of that matter that is way higher than what I did in my trade of course and more than likely cannot be done by majority teams in the league nor the 2 teams KD hopes to go to in Miami and Phoenix.
Uncertain how the season unfolds if a trade can't be accomplished for KD or Kyrie: Does Kyrie sit out?
It's hard to complete a KD trade to a potential contender in general because it could mean said contender loses a lot of valuable depth (i.e. why the Warriors aren't necessarily ringing the phone immediately to trade for KD)
Cap Impact: adding $11.9M
PHOENIX SUNS
Phoenix is coming off a hall of fame meltdown in Game 7 of the second round to the Dallas Mavericks. After winning 64 games, the Suns playoff run looked like shells of themselves compared to 2021. It's obvious they need a superstar who can do what they want at will, as Devin Booker has a long way to go and Chris Paul showed his age considerably. By trading for KD, the Suns acquire one of the best players in the game and someone you can rely on. The trade would also make the game a lot easier for stars Booker and CP3.
POTENTIAL STARTING LINEUP
PG: Chris Paul
SG: Devin Booker
SF: Mikal Bridges
PF: Kevin Durant
C: Bismack Biyombo
Notable Reserves: Cameron Payne, Jae Crowder (FA), Aaron Holiday
NEGATIVES
The trade package from the Suns that I had put together may be too weak for the Nets' liking. Nets would be more enticed to receive Booker but that's off the table because he received the max from the Suns (Sidenote: Nets have also already stated they aren't interested in acquiring Ayton if that were a question)
Would the Suns be willing to give up 3 1st rounders and a 2nd rounder? It's not like they aren't a strong contender without KD
Cap Impact: adding $9.3M
UTAH JAZZ
The Jazz are in a weird spot. For years they've been that team in the NBA that will always make the playoffs but everyone knows they aren't a true contender, no matter how good their regular season record is. After Quin Snyder leaving and trading Gobert, it'll be interesting to see whether or not the Jazz look to rebuild completely or build around Donovan Mitchell.
Whatever happens, acquiring Ayton has been rumbling and Utah could use a young star who can fill Gobert's shoes for the future.
POTENTIAL STARTING LINEUP
PG: Mike Conley
SG: Donovan Mitchell
SF: Malik Beasley
PF: Jarred Vanderbilt
C: Deandre Ayton
Notable Reserves: Jordan Clarkson, Daniel House, Hassan Whiteside
NEGATIVES
The Jazz may not want to ship 3 players, especially a solid role player like Bojan Bogdanovic
Cap Impact: adding $5.4M
LASTLY...PROOF IT WORKS
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