Mock trade has Nets sending Kevin Durant to Lakers for Anthony Davis
The Los Angeles Lakers are not doing so hot this season as they are currently 14th in the Western Conference with a 3-10 record. Sports Illustrated’s Rohan Nadkarni thought of four different trades that the Lakers could pull off using star Anthony Davis to make the team around superstar forward LeBron James better.
While Nadkarni acknowledges that any Davis trade is a “social media fantasy”, he says that the Lakers must do something if they want to salvage this season. It must be noted that the article centers around just Davis because James cannot be traded this season because of the extension that he signed in this past offseason.
One of the mock trades is trading Davis and another intriguing piece heading to the Brooklyn Nets for superstar Kevin Durant.
Proposed Trade
Brooklyn Nets receive: forward Anthony Davis and guard Lonnie Walker IV
Los Angeles Lakers receive: forward Kevin Durant
SI.com on why the Brooklyn Nets do this deal
“#ADforKD has been a fun trade to discuss at various points, particularly in the summer when Durant requested a trade from Brooklyn. One issue that could hold this up is that the Nets have actually been playing well amid their recent controversies, putting together their best stretch of the season since suspending Kyrie Irving.
Despite the recent success, Brooklyn may be one more swoon away from considering this trade. If the Nets go in the tank again, trading Durant would help to begin to cleanse the drama hovering over this organization.
Acquiring Davis would allow Brooklyn to still contend while figuring out what to do with Irving and Ben Simmons. Davis would be the featured player with the Nets and could maintain his star persona in a big market.”
Exploring the deal from the Nets side
Durant is arguably the best player in this deal, but Davis isn’t far off in terms of ability. Brooklyn is just 6-8 thus far, but they have been playing better since Jacque Vaughn took over the head coaching duties from Steve Nash.
The Nets are 4-2 in the past six games and that was without guard Kyrie Irving and mostly without guard/forward Ben Simmons. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Brooklyn has the fourth-best odds of winning the title (+1300) so there is little to no reason for the Nets to abandon ship just yet.
However, the Nets are in a weird spot right now. Irving is currently on an indefinite suspension and there is no timeline on when he’s coming back to the team. As great of an addition as Davis would be to the Nets, Durant will be able to keep this team afloat until Irving and Simmons return and KD is having a wonderful season so far.
More Nets news and notes
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