Everyone around the NBA saw the news Thursday and knew what it meant. The Brooklyn Nets are making moves.
The Nets traded Allan Crabbe and his giant contract, along with some draft picks, to the Atlanta Hawks for Taurean Prince and a 2021 second-round pick. The reason for the move was apparent. By getting off Crabbe's deal, the Nets now have enough cap space to either sign a max free agent and retain restricted free agent D'Angelo Russell, or sign two max free agents and choose to let Russell take his talents elsewhere.
The Nets long have been rumored as a potential landing spot for Kyrie Irving. The star point guard grew up in New Jersey and a return to his roots has started to feel like a foregone conclusion ever since the Boston Celtics were wiped off the map by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the NBA playoffs.
But what about that second max slot?
Well. according to FOX Sports 1's Cris Carter, Irving has been trying to recruit Kevin Durant to join him in Brooklyn next season.
"The interest in Brooklyn is real from Kyrie, that's been known for a long time. And I have a source that tells me Kyrie is trying to pursue Kevin Durant. He has reached out to KD and tried to persuade him [to come to the Nets]." - @criscarter80 pic.twitter.com/EFEaWlptnp— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) June 7, 2019
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It's long been rumored that Irving and Durant would be a package deal, but most assumed they would team up with New York's other team -- the Knicks. The Nets submarining the Knicks' hopes and dreams would be a juicy and unforeseen twist in Durant and Irving's free agency saga.
[RELATED: KD posts cryptic Instagram amid NBA Finals absence]
Now, will Durant listen to his good friend and leave the Bay Area to be Brooklyn's savior? Or will Irving's desire to play for the Nets actually push KD toward returning to the Warriors? Honestly, no one knows.
Durant's future in the Bay reportedly is directly tied to the outcome of the Warriors' NBA Finals battle with the Toronto Raptors, so it appears everything is on the table at this moment.
Everyone better buckle up, the rumors will only intensify from here on out.
