By BRIAN MAHONEY (AP Basketball Writer)
NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Durant’s time in Brooklyn ended early Thursday when the Nets agreed to commerce him to the Phoenix Suns, an individual with information of the main points stated.
The Suns will ship Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, 4 first-round picks and extra draft compensation to the Nets for the 13-time All-Star.
The Suns additionally obtain ahead T.J. Warren within the deal, the individual informed The Associated Press on situation of anonymity as a result of the commerce is just not but official.
It was first reported by ESPN.
The 34-year-old Durant remains to be enjoying at an elite degree, averaging practically 30 factors per recreation this season. He requested for a commerce final summer time and the Suns have been , and at last bought him earlier than Thursday’s 3 p.m. EST commerce deadline.
He is recovering from a sprained knee ligament, and when he returns will probably be to a Phoenix lineup that immediately may very well be among the best within the Western Conference.
Durant was moved simply days after the Nets traded Kyrie Irving from Dallas, a stunningly quick finish to the celebrity period in Brooklyn. James Harden was traded ultimately 12 months’s deadline, leaving the Nets with little to point out for the transient time they’d the Big Three collectively.
Now it’s the Suns with a prime assortment of expertise, with Durant becoming a member of Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton.
The commerce comes simply hours after new Suns majority proprietor Mat Ishbia was launched in Phoenix. The self-described basketball nut, who was a walk-on at Michigan State beneath Tom Izzo, didn’t waste any time shaking up the NBA.
Phoenix has by no means gained an NBA championship. The Suns made the NBA Finals two seasons in the past, however misplaced to the Milwaukee Bucks in six video games. They additionally performed within the finals in 1976 and 1993.
The Suns have had a number of accidents this season, however performed higher in latest weeks and appear like contenders once more. They jumped to fifth within the Western Conference with a 30-26 document. Booker (groin) and Paul (hip) have each just lately returned.
When Irving heard the information, he stated: “I’m just glad that he got out of there.”
Irving scored 24 factors in his Mavs debut in opposition to the Clippers on Wednesday. The Nets refused to present him a contract extension final summer time, about the identical time Durant was telling the crew he wished to be dealt.
Eventually, it was Irving out and Durant gone as effectively.
“We had a lot of conversations throughout the year of what our futures were going to look like,” Irving stated. “There was nonetheless a degree of uncertainty however we simply cared about seeing one another be locations that we are able to thrive. Whether that be collectively or whether or not that be aside, there has by no means been one second the place I’ve felt like he’s been indignant at me for the selections I’ve made or I’ve been indignant at him.
“I just love the competition now that we can be in the same conference.”
Bridges was the runner-up to Boston’s Marcus Smart final season for the Defensive Player of the Year award and his offensive recreation continues to develop. The swingman scored 21 factors Tuesday when the Suns beat the Nets 116-112 in Brooklyn.
His acquisition, together with Dorian Finney-Smith, who got here with Spencer Dinwiddie from Dallas, ought to make the Nets a a lot stronger defensive crew. But it appears not possible to exchange the firepower they misplaced with Durant and Irving, two All-Star starters.
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AP Sports Writers David Brandt in Phoenix and Beth Harris in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com”