Durant’s time in Brooklyn didn’t go as expected as he dealt with injuries, as did Kyrie Irving, and the Nets didn’t have the success they had hoped for when they drafted the duo. Durant is still spectacular averaging 28.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists as a member of the Nets, but the team’s success just hasn’t been there for a number of reasons. The Sixers would love to have Durant join forces with Embiid and James Harden in Philadelphia, and a new mock trade cooked up by Bleacher Report has the superstar forward headed to the City of Brotherly Love. The false commercial proposal
Nets receive: Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey, Matisse Thybulle and three first-round pick trades (2024, 2026, 2028) Sixers receive: Kevin Durant
B/R on why the Sixers are making this deal The hurdle of Durant and Harden reuniting may seem too high to clear, but KD expressed no hard feelings when his former teammate demanded a trade last year. At the very least, Durant now understands Harden’s motivation, and it also seems clear that Harden’s departure had more to do with Kyrie Irving than anything else. The Sixers side of this needs no explanation. Durant, Harden and Embiid would be the most dangerous trio in the league, and Philly is walking away from the Harris deal in the process of putting together a new superteam. Don’t forget, the Sixers have signed the guy whose opinion matters most. Breaking down the deal from the Sixers’ point of view There really isn’t much analysis needed here. Durant alongside Harden and Embiid makes Philadelphia one of the top teams in the East and firmly in the conversation with the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks to make it out of the East. The potential problem in this deal is probably Harris and his contract. One might assume the Nets would prefer not to take on this deal if they are going to embark on a rebuild after losing Durant and Irving. As such, a third team may need to be involved, but the Sixers don’t have much control over the draft picks to include and attach to Harris’ bloated contract. Ideally, a team would like picks with Harris as sweeteners. 1 1
