The Los Angeles Lakers have missed out on Kyrie Irving, which is unfortunate as they have been looking for an elite player to add next to LeBron James on the roster. With that being said, they could end up taking a different direction in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets.
Since Kyrie Irving is gone, it is possible that the Brooklyn Nets will elect to move Kevin Durant prior to the trade deadline. In that case, the Los Angeles Lakers could try to get him with a package centered on Anthony Davis. Here is our wild trade scenario for that to happen.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Kevin Durant, Ben Simmons
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, 2027 First-Round Pick (LAL)
This would be a wild trade to see, and thus far, there are no indications that either side is contemplating a deal with this framework. However, it could end up being a win-win proposition, and let's dive in to see why both teams should make this trade.
The Los Angeles Lakers Pair LeBron James With Kevin Durant
The key for the Los Angeles Lakers as of right now is to figure out a way to build a contending team with LeBron James while not sacrificing too much of their future. This trade could potentially be a way to do so.
Anthony Davis is a top-10 player when he's fully healthy, but most people would agree that Kevin Durant is the better player of the two. A partnership between LeBron James and Kevin Durant would be good from a basketball-fit perspective. LeBron James could run the offense for the Lakers and let Kevin Durant focus on the scoring. James is at his best as a point forward, and Durant is at his best as a scorer, and this would allow both of them to play to their strengths rather than having to do everything for a team. LeBron James and Kevin Durant would become a top-3 duo in the NBA, if not the best duo.
On top of getting Kevin Durant in this deal, the Los Angeles Lakers would also be taking on Ben Simmons' contract. He would be a defensive specialist for the team, which could also provide some rebounding and playmaking. Though he wouldn't be able to replicate Anthony Davis' impact on that end of the floor, Ben Simmons was in DPOY conversations in the past, and he could still be a positive player on that end of the floor for the Los Angeles Lakers. His contract is viewed as a negative right now, but perhaps Ben Simmons could rebuild his reputation on the Lakers.
In this deal, the Los Angeles Lakers would have to move off the expiring contracts of Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley and one of their tradeable first-round picks along with Anthony Davis. They would help the Nets get a solid return for Kevin Durant and aid them in moving off Ben Simmons' contract by sending them a large amount of expiring money. This deal makes sense on many levels for the Lakers as they'd be adding a superstar in Kevin Durant and a solid defensive player in Ben Simmons, who can help them win a championship over the course of the next few seasons.
The Brooklyn Nets Get A Superstar In Return For Kevin Durant
If the key is getting top-tier players in a Kevin Durant trade, there is no deal better than this one for the Brooklyn Nets. They would get a new franchise centerpiece and would move off Ben Simmons' contract.
Anthony Davis is definitely a player that a team could build around, and he's been absolutely dominant when healthy this season. As of right now, Anthony Davis is putting up 27.1 PPG, 12.0 RPG, and 2.0 BPG this season and is providing a huge impact on both ends of the floor. The Brooklyn Nets would essentially be getting a top-10 player in the world in this scenario, and even with Davis' durability issues, he is worth the risk.
Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley would obviously be traded to the Nets to let them move out of Ben Simmons' contract, as the forward has been disappointing for them his season. However, both Westbrook and Beverley are also solid contributors who can help them potentially win immediately. The first-round pick would be the draft compensation required in this scenario to make a deal work.
Overall, getting a top-10 player for Kevin Durant as well as being able to offload Ben Simmons' long-term deal, makes this an appealing trade for the Brooklyn Nets. They would also have the draft capital to build around Anthony Davis as well, leaving them in a good position to continue being a competitive playoff team.
The Lakers And The Nets Would Both Have Something To Gain With This Trade
This deal would let both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets walk away with a solid return for their franchise. The Lakers would immediately become championship contenders with this move, and a LeBron James-Kevin Durant duo would likely make them a top-3 team in the Western Conference.
The Nets would also remain a competitive team under Anthony Davis' leadership, and it is quite possible that they would still be a contender in the Eastern Conference with a few moves. Veteran stars like DeMar DeRozan could become available ahead of the trade deadline as well, meaning that there will be opportunities to get star-level players.
This is absolutely a wild trade scenario, but it is not completely impossible. Perhaps if the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets want to shake things up completely, we could see some version of this deal.
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