An NBA offseason already featuring nearly $3-billion in new guaranteed contracts, the Dejounte Murray trade and Kyrie Irving threatening to take a mid-level exception to leave Brooklyn, before Rudy Gobert moved to initiate a mysterious Jazz rebuild, didn't need a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sized trade request to instill intrigue in this summer.
Kevin Durant demanded to leave the Nets anyway this week, marking the end of perhaps the most disappointing super team ever with one playoff series win, sparse appearances from Irving, and Durant himself playing fewer games for Brooklyn than Kevin Garnett did in three seasons. Now, the Nets sit in a similar situation to when Paul Pierce departed in 2014. They don't own their future first-round picks through 2028 due to the James Harden trade, which produced 16 games played (13-3) from their big three. Their owner Joe Tsai seemingly put his foot down. No more dysfunction, even if that rule sends everyone to the exits. One of the great mid-season dilemmas we've ever seen landed Harden in Philadelphia to resolve the difficult Ben Simmons situation, which now looks straightforward compared to the prospect of trading Durant, whose future could shift the balance of the league, whose trade return could quickly bolster Brooklyn's fortunes and whose extension on an expensive roster could complicate and lengthen this process that looms over the NBA's normal offseason activity.
The Nets also need to trade Irving, a challenge in itself, and in order to maximize their Durant return, may need to clear Simmons' three-year, $113.6-million deal since he signed it as Philadelphia's designated rookie extension recipient. Each team is allowed two players on such contracts, but only one can be via trade. That's the same rule that held up the Anthony Davis pursuit for the Celtics while Kyrie Irving played for them, so the Nets can't have Devin Booker, Bam Adebayo, Zion Williamson, Michael Porter Jr., among other potential centerpiece returns on the roster with Simmons. It's a difficult reality for a Brooklyn team that probably would've loved to build around Simmons after Irving and Durant left, since there's no incentive for them to tank without owning their picks.
That thrusts Simmons back into a league-wide snarl of unresolved situations alongside Donovan Mitchell (now the lone star on the Jazz following a pick-based return for Gobert), Russell Westbrook's expiring deal on the Lakers, Deandre Ayton's stalled restricted free agency, and Irving and Durant's futures. It wouldn't be far-fetched to see all these players traded for each other in some kind of mega deal, with the Harden-Simmons trade showing the wildest outcome might be the most likely now, the NBA flipping Occam's razor upside down.
Durant and Irving reportedly still have interest in playing together, but that's dubious considering they could do so now on the Nets. Brooklyn acquired Royce O'Neale as Durant reportedly approached Nets owner Joe Tsai demanding a trade, while retaining Patty Mills and Nic Claxton. Irving opted into his $36.5 million player option last week, citing his commitment to Durant, who had inked a four-year, $194 million extension last year and may not play one game of it on the Nets -- an unprecedented test of star power. Although the Nets' brass reasonably wanted to assert itself over Irving's unpredictability and push back against his season-ending comments on co-managing the franchise, they signed up for Irving as a prerequisite to landing Durant. If Durant's reason for leaving, like Harden's, involves escaping the unreliability of Irving himself, then the Nets couldn't have done anything differently and Irving would be further isolated league-wide entering his contract year.
Despite the baggage both players carry, talent wins and the Nets put up with all they did over three seasons -- Durant missing the first, Irving hiatuses, Simmons' slow return to the floor and Steve Nash as head coach -- in an effort to win a championship. They looked to be on their way in 2021 before injuries struck in the postseason, and both Irving and Durant posted some of their most dominant regular seasons of their careers playing for the Nets. Brooklyn should be able to net a historic haul for Durant, who reportedly prefers the Suns or Heat, and something significant for Irving.
The Heat, the east's No. 1 seed last season, sit in an uncharacteristically inflexible position to land either star. They are paying Jimmy Butler max money as their star, can't send Adebayo to Brooklyn, and the majority of the money on the rest of their roster is going to Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson, two bad contracts as it stands. Miami freed up its 2023-2024 first-round picks in a shrewd deadline deal with the Thunder, and now only have their 2025 and 2026 firsts tied up, still possibly too many to effectively compensate the Nets. Tyler Herro only makes rookie scale money, far below Irving and Durant's max deals.
The Suns have the salaries, all their future picks and talent between Defensive Player of the Year candidate Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson. There's a chance Brooklyn forgoes all that to demand Booker's involvement in the deal, which would force the Nets to find a Simmons suitor. The two sides could meet in the middle by facilitating an Ayton sign-and-trade, but would need cooperation from the free agent and the move would hard cap the Nets at roughly $157-million when their roster already costs $161-million as it stands. There's no easy path to sending Ayton to Brooklyn without a larger deal offsetting salaries in different directions and who would want Simmons anyway? That's where the Lakers, Jazz and more could enter.
This will all need to come together quickly, too. Each day that passes costs the Nets more opportunities to get back on their feet, while potential Durant, Irving and Simmons suitors start to lock up and money and flexibility elsewhere. With the league's annual gathering of agents, executives and team personnel at NBA Summer League looming in Las Vegas next week, it wouldn't be surprising to see other suitors emerge in pursuit of Durant due to the difficulties Phoenix and Miami face in adding him, including the Boston Celtics.
Jayson Tatum aside, the Celtics' collection of talented players and future picks would not cost the Nets Simmons, and there's a chance Jaylen Brown is the best overall player Brooklyn could acquire for Durant if the Suns decline to offer Booker. With trades stalled elsewhere, Boston could sneak into the conversation and land a franchise-altering talent for Brown, Marcus Smart, some salary along with three unprotected future first-round picks and two pick swaps through 2029. One that gives them a more sure-fired shot at multiple championships with Tatum. The Celtics landed Malcolm Brogdon as another layer of depth to their back court, protected the 2023 first-rounder they sent to Indiana in the deal without it carrying over to 2024 (instead turning into a second-round pick if it doesn't convey), freeing up the team's selections in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2029 (2028 pick swap owed to Spurs). If Brooklyn demanded Robert Williams III too, as they probably would, the cost may cross the line of being a worthwhile opportunity.
Other teams like the Pelicans have their own future picks, as well as their array of Lakers selections owed to them from the Anthony Davis trade. Although Williamson would be ineligible to land alongside Simmons, New Orleans could build a package around Brandon Ingram, young prospects like Herb Jones and a boat load of future picks for a Nets team that currently has few? The Thunder, interestingly enough, could also get in on Durant eventually with their array of young players and unprecedented pick haul, bringing Durant back where it started, though without the star power around him New Orleans, Boston or his preferred destinations would feature. What, after two moves across Golden State and Brooklyn though, truly is Durant's desire at this point? Nobody seems to know that can relay it publicly.
The Nets' ability to pivot toward alternative suitors would come down to Durant's willingness to land in alternative destinations. Though it's hard to see him sitting out Simmons-style in protest, the Nets might be intrigued by the prospect of bringing him to camp and hoping he changes his mind, since he is locked up for four years. Ultimately, Durant would need to play wherever he's dealt or sit out. The team receiving him would need to hope it's getting the best version of him.
Durant's upside as an All-NBA Second Team player and MVP candidate before he got injured mid-season last year will have as many as 29 teams lining up to at least inquire what it would take. He averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists on 51.8% shooting last season before a 38% shooting performance in round one against the Celtics. It's worth wondering how much that decline reflected more to come into his 34-year-old season, three years removed from achilles surgery, or his dwindling belief in the Nets as Simmons sat and Irving struggled.
It's worth finding out, since Durant at his best could immediately solidify a team as a championship favorite across multiple seasons and his skills could lead to a smoother decline than others reliant on athleticism. Although the Nets, for the second time, become a cautionary tale against yielding complete organizational control to the players, against the older super team with questionable depth implemented around them, against trading all your future first-round picks for now at the risk something could go wrong and disarm your ability to improve for a decade. There's too much talent in the league to thin out your roster now.
As the league goes younger, more athletic and teams like the Celtics, Bucks, Suns and Warriors fusing poised veteran leadership and depth with young ascendent talent rose to the top last season. That could give teams like Boston pause over consolidating for 1-3 great years with a star when they could have a decade with their young guys. Who's to say the young guys stick around either though? And wasn't the allure of the 2008 title worth the disappointments and decline through the five years that followed? It's all part of the growing intrigue, debate over team building, annual player movement and pressure on teams that's made this league more captivating than ever. There's constant pressure, calculating, tough decisions and unexpected twists landing on teams that create this offseason intrigue and opportunities for others. There's a world where the Durant trade puts the Nets in an even better position long-term, the same way the end of a Celtics era in 2013 and the picks they acquired from Brooklyn put Boston in the contending position it's in now.
Danny Ainge is already trying his hand at the process one more time in Utah. Will his former Celtics take the opposite approach this time?
Here's what else happened in the NBA this week...
Atlanta: Transformed their roster by trading Danilo Gallinari, a pair of future first-round picks and two pick swaps to the Spurs for Dejounte Murray, a defensive, playmaking guard with scoring upside to help Trae Young when teams try to attack him and get him off the ball some on offense. It might be an underutilized part of his game that leads to a more dynamic overall offense. Atlanta went onto trade Kevin Huerter and his long-term extension to the Kings in exchange for Justin Holiday, Mo Harkless and a top-14 protected 2024 first-round pick. The Hawks also added Aaron Holiday, finding more balance on their roster, maintaining Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic, while moving to a comfortable $18-million below the luxury tax. It's not a slam dunk they're back in the mix in a tough east, but it proved creative maneuvering.
Boston: After a quiet first day of free agency, the Celtics flipped five players, including Aaron Nesmith and Daniel Theis, along with a lightly-protected 2023 first-round pick to the Pacers for Malcolm Brodgon. Brogdon, a long-time fan and Stevens favorite, comes off a 36-game campaign plagued by achilles pain, part of a career-long string of ailments around his feet stemming back to college at Virginia as he prepares to turn 30. He's traded off elite shooting seasons with average ones, and projects more as a secondary ball-handler than a pure point guard. Adrian Wojnarowksi classified the moves aim as getting a true playmaking guard, interesting considering Marcus Smart and Derrick White's presence. Boston will also add veteran shooter Danilo Gallinari on a two-year, $13-million deal on the mid level exception (the second year being a player option) once he clears waivers. Thomas Bryant could reportedly join on a minimum deal to fill Theis' depth big role. The Celtics hardened their depth and became a Vegas title favorite, Wyc Grousbeck and ownership's affirmation they'd pay the tax proved correct with Boston slated to now pay over $30-million.
Brooklyn: The Nets seemingly escaped the drama of a Kyrie Irving exodus late last week before Kevin Durant demanded a trade amid the unfolding dysfunction within the organization. That focus getting taken away from basketball, according to multiple reports, influenced Durant to effectively bail from a four-year extension beginning next season, with a preference on landing with the Suns or Heat. It's a franchise-altering failure for Brooklyn, winning one playoff series before they're now inevitably forced to move both stars, with Ben Simmons' presence limiting their ability to return an elite young player for Durant. Irving's value can't be high either and the Rockets, as we've noted here before, own rights to Nets first-round picks through 2028. Brooklyn retained Patty Mills and Nic Claxton, and traded a first-round pick for Royce O'Neale as they'll inevitably need to pivot toward competitiveness somehow with no incentive to bottom out. Their best bet may be begging Durant to stay once they find a destination for Irving -- which still looks like the Lakers once they can find a way to reroute Westbrook.
Charlotte: Hornets star Miles Bridges turned himself into LA police and was charged with felony domestic violence this week, before release on bond ahead of a July 20 court date. Mychelle Johnson, his children's mother, posted her injuries on Instagram alongside a report alleging strangulation, concussion, among a number of other bruises, strains and a broken nose. It's a chilling accusation of one of the franchise's stars that should put his career in jeopardy at 24 as the NBA and other sports leagues have started to take more appropriate action regarding domestic violence. Jeff Taylor, a former Hornet, received a 24-game suspension in 2014 for pleading guilty to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge before ending up out of the NBA in short order. The NBA hasn't commented, and the team issued a short statment saying it was aware of the allegations.
The Charlotte Hornets released the following statement regarding Miles Bridges. pic.twitter.com/D0qBzVKQQ3
— Charlotte Hornets PR (@HornetsPR) June 30, 2022
Chicago: After teasing possibly exploring free agency, the Bulls and Zach LaVine quickly came to an agreement on a five-year, $215-million max contract that solidifies him as the team's franchise cornerstone alongside DeMar DeRozan. Despite lingering injury concerns for third star Lonzo Ball, this team's start proved as encouraging as any other in the east before injuries ravaged them. Derrick Jones Jr.'s return at two-years, $6.6-million and Andre Drummond joining on the same deal padded Chicago's bench, with 14 players now rostered including first-round pick Dalen Terry. There isn't much more work to do here, but they could address Coby White's future and add a wing.
Cleveland: They handed Darius Garland a five-year, $193 million designated maximum rookie contract extension that could be worth as much as $231 million if he makes an All-NBA team next season. They also brought back Ricky Rubio on a three-year, $18-million deal that showed his value to the Cavaliers before tearing his ACL last December. Robin Lopez joined the team's bench on a one-year signing alongside its massive starting front court. Raul Neto rounded out the day as a depth guard addition, perhaps to spell any recovery time Rubio needs through the end of the year. The Cavaliers still have roughly $19-million in room beneath the luxury tax as Collin Sexton remains a restricted free agent without significant buzz at the moment. This was a player in the east before their string of injuries, and while not near the top of his list, they could try their best to pitch Kevin Durant on joining.
Dallas: Lost Jalen Brunson to the Knicks' despite some awkward last-minute scrambling to put together some kind of offer to rival New York's four-year, $106 million. The Mavericks never seemed comfortable extending themselves to retain Luka Doncic's running mate, and though he might not have been a star they'll now continue their perpetual search for that second star without anything resembling one. They added Javale McGee on a three-year, $20.4 million contract that runs through his 37-year-old season, a curious choice for a team with Maxi Kleber, Christian Wood and Dwight Powell on the roster already. It's hard to tell what the plan is here after an encouraging west finals run.
Denver: Opened the offseason curiously trading Monte Morris and Will Barton for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith (who broke the record for most NBA teams with 13), before adding to their wing depth with an excellent Bruce Brown addition (two-years, $13-million, noting the Nets didn't try to retain him). The Nuggets didn't need to add much to a core of Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray returning, and though they could go stargazing in the Durant sweepstakes, it's unlikely due to Porter's designated rookie extension not being eligible to join Ben Simmons' in Brooklyn, beyond the other compensation Denver would need to provide. Jokic officially signed his five-year, $264-million extension -- the biggest in NBA history.
Detroit: Not the explosive offseason some hoped for here, offloading Jerami Grant in a series of moves that landed rookie big man Jalen Duren. They kicked back some cap space to next summer by absorbing Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel's deals before re-signing Marvin Bagley III on a three-year, $37-million and adding former Knicks and Hawks guard Kevin Knox on a flier. They'll keep slow-playing this rebuild, seemingly out on their rumored connection to Deandre Ayton and almost certainly done with any pursuit of Miles Bridges they might've envisioned amid his domestic violence charge. With Jaden Ivey and Duren added in this draft, a strong draft predicted next summer, and more internal growth possible for Killian Hayes, Bagley III and others, this is still a team to watch for, but probably not one making significant noise just yet in 2022-23.
Golden State: Took a hit to their championship core, retaining Kevon Looney at three-years $25.5-million before losing Gary Payton II to the Trail Blazers and Otto Porter Jr. to the Raptors. Golden State tried to fill those holes by bringing in forgotten free agent Donte DiVincenzo, who the Kings declined to make a restricted free agent earlier this week, on a two-year, $9.3-million contract. He went through a difficult return from knee surgery between Milwaukee and Sacramento last year. The Warriors will be integrating more unproven talent next year, but that's what they did this past season with Looney, Porter and Payton II; relative unknowns before emerging as invaluable contributors on a championship team. Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and eventually Patrick Baldwin Jr. could step up next season, while the investment in Looney may call into question just how long James Wiseman could be for Golden State after a lost sophomore season to knee surgery. Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damion Lee also left the Warriors for opportunities with the Lakers and Suns after helping Golden State's rebuild.
Indiana: Traded Malcolm Brogdon for curiously low value, perhaps to open up $30-million in cap space and get in on the Deandre Ayton sweepstakes. Some kind of Myles Turner and Ayton swap always made some sense if the Suns do indeed need to move on from their young big man. Turner is in the final year of a contract that's made him tought to move alongside Brogdon going back several years now. A star big man upgrade to pair alongside a point guard upgrade in Tyrese Haliburton would make this rebuild something closer to the restock this team dreamed of when they made the tough decision to trade Domantas Sabonis. Former lottery pick Jalen Smith is sticking around on a two-year $9.6-million deal, affirming the flier they took on the Suns center whose declined team option limited any team taking him to the offer he ultimately accepted. Boston had reportedly considered the young stretch big as well last year.
Clippers: Officially added John Wall on a two-year contract following his buyout from Houston. He last played on April 23, 2021 before the Rockets sat him for the remainder of that season and the entirety of the 2021-22 one looking for a trade. Wall ultimately gave back around $6.5 million of his $47 million in a buyout, allowing him to bolster a back court already boasting Reggie Jackson, Terance Mann, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Wall's moderate catch-and-shoot success, playmaking and transition pacing should benefit the Clippers and provide some useful structure, but for a player so reliant on athleticism before his 2019 achilles tear, this isn't certain to be the old Wall. LA also brought back Nic Batum alongside a crowded room of wings on a two-year, $22-million. Money seems to be no object for Steve Ballmer's franchise, but they did let an important piece to their defense from a year ago get away in Isaiah Hartenstein, while extending Ivica Zubac (three-years, $33-million). They could use a backup big in a market that's largely dried up, save for recent Lakers staple Dwight Howard.
Lakers: The Durant trade demand puts them back in the game for Irving, though with no clear path to moving on from Westbrook's $47-million contract, which now needs to be used in some way as salary matching with Irving now making just over $36 million. Brooklyn won't want Westbrook, but with Utah now seemingly open to selling, it'd be interesting to see if the Lakers and Nets could pool enough assets to get Donovan Mitchell to Brooklyn while landing Irving in LA and Westbrook to the Jazz on a dump. Brooklyn already sent a first-rounder to Utah for Royce O'Neale, and the Lakers only own their own first rounders in 2027 and 2029. Simmons' presence on the Nets continues to be a hindrance against acquiring other designated rookie extension recipients like Mitchell. Utah also reportedly hasn't shown much interest in dealing their star, despite moving on from Gobert in a picks-based package this week. Elsewhere, the Lakers' free agency splashes included: Juan Toscano-Anderson, Lonnie Walker IV, Troy Brown Jr. and Damian Jones.
Memphis: Kept Tyus Jones in an important deal (two-years, $30 million), but the biggest news of the week became Jaren Jackson Jr.'s stress fracture in his foot reportedly about to cost him 4-6 months. That could sideline Jackson through around the new year after he emerged as a defensive player of the year candidate on an ascendant Grizzlies team. They lost Kyle Anderson to Minnesota, one of the depth forwards who could've helped them sustain that loss, and will hope Brandon Clarke, Santi Aldama, Killian Tillie, or Xavier Tillman can provide some consistent production next to Steven Adams, or even at the five. The team also drafted Jake LaRavia and David Roddy, who will get opportunities to compete right away for that spot starting in Summer League this month.
Miami: On the sidelines due to some awkward cap management of any potential pursuit of Durant, Irving, or Mitchell at the moment. They can't offer Adebayo due to the designated rookie crossover alongside Ben Simmons. Herro has a small rookie contract for the purposes of money matching, while Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson have next to no value on massive deals. Their ownership over their future first-round picks falls short of other competing teams too, meaning they'll have to rely on the allure of Miami and the power of the stars to force their way to the Heat. It's not a great prospect, perhaps calling into question just how long they'd consider reforming their core by moving Jimmy Butler for one of these stars. Is it worth it? Would it get a deal done? Both answers are probably no.
Milwaukee: Nice start to free agency for a team that didn't need to do much. They kept Bobby Portis on a four-year, $49-million deal as one of Giannis Antetokounmpo's best supporters in the front court. Wes Matthews returned to solidify the back court after a resurgent season at 35. They also added injured former Jazz forward Joe Ingles on a flier/recovery contract as he prepares to return to the court sometime into 2023 after tearing his ACL in February. He's an aging veteran, but one who provided shooting, playmaking, and glued together the Jazz' offense in an understated way before his injury played a key role in that unit's downfall last season. Jevon Carter also returned.
Minnesota: Tim Connolly shocked the NBA world with his first major move as Timberwolves GM, stacking all of his medium-sized contracts, consolidating Minnesota's roster into Gobert, a center. Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns will now unite as the NBA's latest rendition of the return to big ball in the mold of the Cavaliers and Celtics last season. This is taking that concept to the next level, though, investing a majority of the franchise's salary cap into two players at a position where even one max salary at can inflict limitations on your roster. Gobert's deal and how it challenged Utah is a major reason he's no longer on the Jazz. Towns moving into even more of a perimeter role on offense isn't great, despite his relatively great shooting for his position. Gobert taking over for the interior defensive assignments Towns struggled to fill is a plus, but he'll probably need to sit in crunch time and important playoff moments. Then what? Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley, Walker Kessler, Jared Vanderbilt and Leandro Bolmaro went to the Jazz in the deal, along with four first-round picks, three of which were unprotected.
New Orleans: Zion Williamson got his long-debated five-year, $231-million rookie extension with the Pelicans, keeping him with the franchise that drafted him for now. Durant's trade request is the latest reminder that these contracts don't mean what the years say they do. Williamson certainly won't be going to Brooklyn for Durant, for now, but a package built around Brandon Ingram, an array of Pelicans and Lakers picks, along with several young players could rise pretty close to the top of what the Nets could receive. Would Durant be enticed by teaming up with Williamson and C.J. McCollum in New Orleans? That's harder to say. The Pelicans' quiet start to the offseason could signal some interest.
New York: Finally landed Brunson in a four-year, $104 million deal that'll make him the centerpiece of their franchise alongside RJ Barrett and Julius Randle. They kept Mitchell Robinson on a four-year, $60 million, effectively reuniting the team's lackluster starting lineup from last year with Brunson in the place of Kemba Walker. They've lost Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel and will hope to fill their roles with a resurgent Derrick Rose and ascendent Isaiah Hartenstein. There's a chance these moves, some youth development and better defensive returns point the Knicks northward into the play-in tournament with a chance to sneak back into the playoffs. Capping yourself out without a ceiling above that isn't great and it's worth wondering if slow playing this rebuild instead of hemorrhaging picks and assets to squeeze Brunson onto the team would've been the better route into the future.
Oklahoma City: Kept Lu Dort after strange reports they'd consider moving him for the Trail Blazers' pick. Instead, he'll stay in Oklahoma City on a five-year, $87.5 million contract. The Thunder's cap space disappeared on Friday with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's contract extension kicking in, further locking this team into drafting and developing through the next year or two with Kemba Walker's contract coming back off the books and their young player's salaries starting to rise. That's where this group will have to make a choice on how to leap toward winning.
Orlando: Re-signed solid veteran wing Gary Harris on a two-year, $26 million deal after a strong shooting season coming over from Denver in the Aaron Gordon trade. They'll have him as a trade sweetener if he continues to play well and they need that medium-sized salary. Mo Bamba is also back on a two-year, $21-million contract in a crowded front court where minutes won't be promised. Bol Bol re-signed too after the Celtics dumped him to Orlando before the trade deadline as he continues to recover from foot surgery. Their core of young starters are what's most important here, but the Magic ultimately didn't follow through on their Hartenstein pursuit or their long-running attempts to trade Terrance Ross in the opening days of free agency.
Philadelphia: Signed P.J. Tucker to the full mid level exception over three-years, $30-million, an intriguing decision for a team trying to complement James Harden and Joel Embiid with offensive contributors around them. Tucker's deal carries him through his 40-year-old season and hard caps the team after Harden opted out of his $47.3-million player option to sign a lower figure and allow the team to improve. So far, that's meant adding Tucker, Danuel House and Trevelin Queen. The Sixers will lean on Harden, Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, but this doesn't look like a roster poised to currently compete with the best of the east if Harden's decline continues.
Phoenix: The reported favorite to land Durant and inevitably the NBA championship favorite if they do so and keep Chris Paul and Devin Booker. The Suns don't have tons of flexibility to get a deal done, though they do own all of their future first-round picks, Mikal Bridges is an enticing wing who nearly won defensive player of the year, while Cam Johnson and the potential of a Ayton sign-and-trade could immediately give the Nets multiple pieces from Phoenix' NBA Finals run last year. Brooklyn may demand Booker, which would probably put these two teams at a stalemate depending on how strongly Durant considers other destinations. The Suns' choice to move on from Ayton alone was puzzling and their future contention hopes now seem predicated on pulling off an extremely difficult trade. For the moment, they have effectively paused Ayton's free agency with their restricted rights over him. They've also lost Javale McGee.
Portland: Re-signed Anfernee Simons on a four-year, $100 million contract and Jusuf Nurkic on a four-year, $70 million deal that reunites the Trail Blazers' core around new additions Jerami Grant and Gary Payton II. Payton signed a three-year $28-million offer that pulled him away from the Warriors. There's a solid mix of offense and defense here when you factor in Josh Hart, Nassir Little and rookie Shaedon Sharpe. This team's trajectory is still almost entirely predicated on Damian Lillard's as he enters a mega deal that'll eventually pay him more than $50-million annually after an injury-riddled 2022. They'll try to lure whoever they can, likely a long shot for Durant, and try to develop their youth while remaining competitive. It's not a terrible formula for a great fan base that was teased for nearly a decade before experiencing losing again.
Sacramento: Looking surprisingly solid after signing Malik Monk (two-years, $19 million) and acquiring Kevin Huerter, maybe even better than their rivals to the south in Los Angeles. The De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis duo will be fun to watch develop into year two even if the Tyrese Haliburton component of the Sabonis trade remains baffling. Davion Mitchell has a clearer path to minutes to begin this season and develop into a role as part of a more defensive mindset under new head coach Mike Brown. They have the salaries and potential fit to bring John Collins in if Atlanta eventually decides to move him. Letting DiVincenzo go after trading for him when they found a better option in Monk might've been the team's most shrewd decision-making in recent memory.
San Antonio: Take a closer look at the Dejounte Murray trade and it isn't great. They ate $11 million on Gallinari's contract as the only player coming back. They received one future Hawks pick, a protected Hornets first round pick that's as likely to become two second-rounders, along with two pick swaps where the Spurs would need to become better than Atlanta in short order to execute. It's not the haul it's been made out to be, and despite the logical thinking that Murray won't stick around when he becomes a free agent in 2024, there had to be a better deal to offload him than this. The Spurs, in many ways, are back at the ground floor of their rebuild and it's worth wondering if Gregg Popovich will be part of it.
Toronto: Brought back Thad Young and Chris Boucher as their interior depth as the Raptors maintain their model of long, tall wings over traditional big men. They also added Otto Porter Jr. to that mix on a two-year deal, reportedly using some of the non-taxpayer MLE, which would hard cap the Raptors. That could complicate their efforts to acquire Durant if they want to get in on the sweepstakes. Including Scottie Barnes would already be a tough pill to swallow, and they'd have to add significant salary to match Durant's $42-million, likely including OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr., or sending Pascal Siakam outright. There are definitely intriguing pieces here and Toronto could get aggressive trying to land a star north of the border on a long-term deal.
Utah: It's worth watching Brian Windhorst's hilarious musings on the Royce O'Neale trade, Will Hardy head coaching hire and Gobert rumors that came to fruition. Windhorst built an obvious puzzle, made it sound mysterious and gave the great reveal now obvious after the Jazz traded Gobert to Minnesota -- they're rebuilding. Although they've signaled since the trade that they aren't moving on from Donovan Mitchell too, it wouldn't be stunning if they took every call and saw what they could get for him having already landed four first-round picks from the Timberwolves for their big man. Danny Ainge could set this team up with the worst roster in the NBA, a few intriguing young players and a haul of draft picks ahead of an intriguing draft next summer. It's hard to tell how they'll reload around Mitchell without him becoming dissatisfied with an extended rebuild.
Washington: As expected, Bradley Beal took the money and will remain with the Wizards into next season on a five-year, $251 million deal for his long-term commitment to Washington. He can now try out their many additions, including Monte Morris, Will Barton, Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma before deciding whether or not he actually wants to remain with the Wizards long-term. It'd be a pivot that would draw eye rolls and skepticism, but if Washington struggles again, Beal's given them more than enough leeway and time over the years to figure this outm, and both sides would inevitably separate amicably with the Wizards able to secure a significant return.