As the NBA prepares to transition into the offseason, a trade has taken place that may carry implications for a number of scenarios. As reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Brooklyn Nets have acquired forward Taurean Prince from the Atlanta Hawks in a deal that includes guard Allen Crabbe. Both teams will reportedly exchange draft picks in this trade, with the Hawks acquiring the 17th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, as well as a protected first round pick in the 2020 draft, and the Nets acquiring a 2021 second round pick.
Brooklyn is clearing $18M in additional salary cap space for July, which gives the Nets $46M in salary cap space to sign a max free agent and even retain restricted free agent D'Angelo Russell. Without Russell, the Nets have two max salary slots. https://t.co/diOiBOkhOZ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 6, 2019
Kyrie Irving is serious about the Nets — and the Nets are serious about beating the Knicks — and rest of league — to the biggest free agents in the marketplace, per league sources.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 6, 2019
The trade between Brooklyn and Atlanta gives the Hawks the 8th, 10th and 17th picks in the upcoming draft, giving the team a number of options if they are to put together a trade package to either move up in the draft or secure another trade. Perhaps the more intriguing of the implications of the trade is that of the Nets having two maximum salary cap slots open, or one max spot if they retain restricted free agent D’Angelo Russell. The name most heavily rumored to have the Nets interest is Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving, who is an unrestricted free agent.
