How Lakers can bring Kyrie and Turner to LA in a Durant-Suns trade
By Jason Reed
Why the other teams could say yes to this trade:
Phoenix Suns:
It is Kevin Durant. Yes, the Suns are trading a lot, but they just fell short in the playoffs and there really are not any improvements the team can make that pushes them over the top. Phoenix obviously is uninterested in bringing back Deandre Ayton and this allows them to get something rather than nothing for him.
Turner in Phoenix is an intriguing fit but we know that Suns owner Robert Sarver is cheap, so that is out the window. Phoenix is already taking on $8.1 million more in salary with this trade. But at the end of the day, they get KD and become the favorites in the NBA to win the title.
Indiana Pacers:
The Pacers only do this trade if they are indeed interested in Deandre Ayton. Indiana could just sign him as a restricted free agent but the Suns have at least some leverage to force a sign-and-trade.
Regardless of what happens, the Pacers are absolutely going to want to trade Buddy Hield and Myles Turner to get Ayton. The Suns probably would prefer Kevin Durant over that package, hence why this becomes a four-team deal. Not much changes for Indiana.
Brooklyn Nets:
The Nets get a boatload of picks to blow it up with this trade. All in all, the Nets are getting seven first-round picks for blowing it up and better yet, the team is not taking on more money.
Sure, Westbrook has a huge contract but the Nets are actually saving just under $200,000 in this trade. While it does not set up the Nets to win the title next season, they could actually still stay somewhat competitive and compete for a play-in, which is what Joe Tsai would seemingly prefer.
Eight picks, salary relief after this upcoming season and a promising young player in Miles Bridges is a nice package for Brooklyn all things considered.