Brooklyn Nets
Just the thought about giving away their top-five NBA player in the upcoming free agency has to be startling to Golden State. While they’ll certainly also make a case to retain the superstar, most analysts and fans believe the 6-foot-10 forward is all but gone.
That said, trading him the Brooklyn Nets would be a high-risk with potentially low-reward for both teams.
For Golden State, they miss out on almost being guaranteed a ring in the 2019 NBA Finals, as losing Durant would drop their odds to win. They’d also risk getting a low return for Durant if he were to stay in Brooklyn.
For Brooklyn, they could repeat the mistakes of their predecessors. If they do this trade then Durant leaves, the Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett trade is brought back to life just in 2018. That’s not a situation they’d want to put their fan base through again just as their on the brink of making the playoffs.
So, yes, both teams have something to lose, but they both also could see a huge return on their investment. Is it the risk worth the reward? Two first-round picks and Joe Harris, who is currently averaging a career-high 13.1 points per game on 49 % shooting, seems like a fair deal all around.