If Charlotte correctly wagered that Simons had another leap in his near-future, that could be the franchise's ticket to full-fledged playoff participation.
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The Hornets need more offensive support for LaMelo Ball, particularly given the many unknowns with free agent Miles Bridges, who is facing three felony domestic violence charges. If the 23-year-old takes another step forward in 2022-23, he could easily score, shoot and slam his way past Rozier while leveling up Charlotte in the process. Rozier might have an argument as the better player right now, but Simons nearly closed the gap entirely last season, which was his first in a significant role. Swapping out Rozier's proven production (plus a first-round pick) for Simons' upside might do the trick. The Hornets are on the doorstep of a breakthrough, but they can't find their way past the play-in tournament.
The Trade: Terry Rozier and 2023 first-round pick (lottery-protected via DEN) to Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons Turner is a good enough shooter (career 34.9 percent from range) to open the floor for Durant and Kyrie Irving to attack, while McConnell's playmaking (career 5.0 assists against 1.6 turnovers) would add some organization. Turner's paint protection and McConnell's disruption would be a boon for the Nets' 20th-ranked defense, and each could add value to the other end, too. In that case, flipping some long-term assets for plug-and-play contributors like Turner and McConnell could work. If Brooklyn doesn't like the available offers, it could conceivably still try to make things work with this roster. The Nets don't seem to feel forced to deal Durant, who perhaps sabotaged his own chances of being traded by giving their governor Joe Tsai a trade-me-or-fire-the-leadership ultimatum, as The Athletic's Shams Charania reported. The Trade: Nic Claxton, Joe Harris, Day'Ron Sharpe and 2027 first-round pick (top-eight protected via PHI) to Pacers for Myles Turner and T.J.
A Durant-Jayson Tatum tandem has a chance to be the Association's best, while Curry would provide scoring and sharpshooting to a backcourt that failed to consistently deliver it in the postseason's biggest moments. The Celtics have the assets to get a deal done, and if they could find a package that doesn't include sacrificing Marcus Smart, they almost certainly have to pounce.
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Boston is "a desired landing spot" for Durant, per SNY's Ian Begley, plus it might have the ultimate trade chip in these talks with Brown, a 25-year-old All-Star swingman. That's sort of understandable given how close this club already came to a title-plus the roster improved with the additions of Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari-but it's also borderline nonsensical seeing as how this is Kevin freakin' Durant.Īnd it's not like the Celtics are simply one of many anonymous suitors here. The Trade: Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Grant Williams and two future first-round picks to Nets for Kevin Durant and Seth CurryĮver since Boston was first linked to Durant, apprehensive Celtics fans have surely found ways to talk themselves out of the exchange.
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