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Kevin Durant is heading to the Brooklyn Nets; that much is clear. What isn’t clear, is whether Durant will sign with the Nets outright or whether the Nets will include Durant in a sign-and-trade deal.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Durant will sign just under a four-year, $164 million deal with the Nets. Durant and Kyrie Irving will reportedly take less than maximum contracts in order to allow DeAndre Jordan to sign with the Nets.
UPDATE: According to Wojnarowski and Shams Charania, the Warriors have agreed to acquire D’Angelo Russell from the Nets in a sign-and-trade deal for Russell, Treveon Graham and Shabazz Napier, which would be include Russell signing to a maximum contract.
Golden State and Brooklyn have agreed on a sign-and-trade, sending D’Angelo Russell to the Warriors on a four-year, $117M maximum contract, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
Here are the details of the trade from Charania:
Warriors are on verge of acquiring Russell, Treveon Graham and Shabazz Napier from Brooklyn, league sources said. https://t.co/4HefUBSNQA
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2019
The feasibility of the trade depended on Russell’s interest, as well as fit in the Warriors’ backcourt once Klay Thompson returns. This issue was reaffirmed by The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, with issues over the impending return of Klay Thompson and Russell’s interest in playing next to Curry, but according to Wojnarowski, the trade has been agreed.
According to Wojnarowski, the Warriors needed to move salary for the trade to work, which came in the form of an Andre Iguodala trade to the Memphis Grizzlies, along with three first-round draft picks.
Golden State is trading Andre Iguodala to the Memphis Grizzlies, league source tells ESPN. Warriors are sending a 2024 protected first-round pick in the 2024 (protected 1-4), 2025 (protected 1) and 2026 unprotected.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
Earlier Sunday, it was reported by Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes, that there was “a possibility” that Durant could be traded to the Nets in a sign-and-trade deal, which could both allow Durant to sign for more than the reported four years, $164 million, and/or allow the Warriors to get something in return.
There's a possibility Kevin Durant will engage in a sign-and-trade swap with Golden State and Brooklyn, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 30, 2019
According to Albert Nahmad, a cap analyst, the trade would provide the Warriors with a $30 million trade exception if the sign-and-trade went through without any additional assets. Trade exceptions do not expire for a full year, so it could give the Warriors time to decide who to use that exception on.
Warriors would create a $30.0M trade exception if they can convince the Nets to acquire Kevin Durant through a sign-and-trade rather than a straight free agent signing.
— Albert Nahmad (@AlbertNahmad) June 30, 2019