The Brooklyn Nets have traded star forward Kevin Durant and forward TJ Warren to the Phoenix Suns for forwards Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, and Jae Crowder. Phoenix also sends four first-round picks and a 2028 pick swap to the Brooklyn Nets. It seems the Nets are prepared to begin their rebuild in earnest while the Suns are pushing to win an NBA Championship. New Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia pushed to get the deal done the night before the official 2022-23 NBA Trade Deadline. The four first-round draft picks from the Suns are all unprotected.
The Suns are sending Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks, a 2028 pick swap for Durant and TJ Warren, sources tell ESPN. Durant wanted move and new owner Mat Ishbia pushed to get deal done tonight. https://t.co/fqFUMIDllo
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 9, 2023
This season with the Brooklyn Nets, Kevin Durant averaged 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.5 blocks. He paired those numbers with a field goal percentage of 55.9 percent and a three-point percentage of 37.6 percent. With him headed to the Suns, he joins Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton with high expectations for the rest of the season and moving beyond that season.
Nets gets unprotected picks in 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 9, 2023
With Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant now both gone from Brooklyn, the team has to view the move as an overall failure. The duo played less than 82 games together and did not get close to an NBA Championship in their tenure with the team. Moving forward the Nets will rebuild and look to win a title in another way. Phoenix is hoping this move wins them at least one NBA Championship in the future.
