NBA – The 3-team, 13-player giga-trade that would see the Lakers win the Kevin Durant sweepstakes!

Par Pierre-Andréa Fraile | Journaliste sportif

Last February, the Lakers had already shaken up the NBA by reaching an agreement with Dallas to acquire the services of Luka Doncic. An American journalist now imagines them capable of completing a 3-team, 13-player deal to attract… Kevin Durant.

Since his appointment as the Lakers’ President of Basketball Operations, Rob Pelinka has been known as a rather cautious executive on the trade market. However, this image was shattered during the season. The Angelino decision-maker didn’t hesitate to sacrifice, among others, Anthony Davis to obtain Luka Doncic in exchange. So, who’s to say he won’t do a double this summer?

The crazy trade idea involving Kevin Durant and the Lakers

Eager to make changes to his squad after the disappointment of the first round of the playoffs, Pelinka could target several stars potentially on the way out during the off-season. Among them, Kevin Durant, whose future is likely to be written far from Phoenix. However, Sports Illustrated’s Jackson Caudell has put together an XXL transfer that would see the Slim Reaper land in Los Angeles:

• The Los Angeles Lakers receive: Kevin Durant, Terance Mann, Nick Richards

• The Atlanta Hawks receive: Grayson Allen, Cody Martin, Jarred Vanderbilt

• The Phoenix Suns receive: Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, Shake Milton, Gabe Vincent, Kobe Bufkin, 1st-round pick 2031 (LAL), 2nd-round pick 2027 (ATL via CLE), 2nd-round pick 2029 (ATL via CLE), 2nd-round pick 2031 (ATL via CLE)

Firstly, the acquisition of Durant would give the Lakers a new Big Three and make them even more dangerous offensively. The acquisition of Nick Richards would meet their need for a mobile pivot in the paint. Finally, Terance Mann’s would add depth on the wing, a sector depopulated following this trade. The main question would then be the defensive aspect.

As far as the Hawks are concerned, the focus would be precisely on defense, with several renowned reinforcements in this area. The qualities of Grayson Allen and Jarred Vanderbilt need no introduction, while Cody Martin would represent a (very) interesting weapon off the bench. All this would entail is the loss of Kobe Bufkin and Cleveland’s previous second-round draft picks.

Finally, the Suns would get the most considerable package in this deal and could then look to the future with less anxiety. This is because, in addition to the multiple draft picks obtained, they would get their hands on several talented young players such as Bufkin, Dalton Knecht and, above all, Austin Reaves. All this, while also picking up solid NBA-referenced role players such as Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent.