So the Nets have agreed to dump Allen Crabbe's deal onto the Hawks with the 17th pick this draft, and a future lottery-protected pick (that will convert to two second rounders if not conveyed by 2022) for Taurean Prince and a 2021 second rounder. Huge implications for free agency that I'll try to break down:
Nets have created a second max slot this summer with this trade (and have the ability to match offers for D'Angelo Russell), joining the Knicks as teams with two max slots. The Clippers can create a second max slot, and the Lakers have one max slot with assets to trade for a star, namely Anthony Davis. Wojnarowski mentioned that there is
mutual interest between the Nets and Kyrie Irving, who now holds a lot of power with regards to player movement this summer.
It's no secret that the Knicks and Nets are aiming to sign two of the top free agents this summer: Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. If Kyrie does indeed sign with the Nets, that essentially puts the Celtics and Knicks out of the Anthony Davis sweepstakes. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the Celtics are unlikely to want to trade for Anthony Davis when their only assets consist of Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, the Grizzlies pick, and the Clippers pick. They won't want to part with both Brown and Tatum, since parting with both of them would significantly weaken their case for AD to re-sign next summer. That means their best offer could likely be one of them plus both picks. That's a pretty bad offer for someone of Anthony Davis's caliber, and quite honestly easily beatable.
The Knicks, without Kyrie Irving, are in a similar situation. They can offer the 3rd pick (RJ Barrett maybe?), Kevin Knox, and Mitchell Robinson, but again that would leave them with a weak case for AD to re-sign, with Frank Ntilikina and Dennis Smith Jr left on their payroll. If they sign Kevin Durant, that's a different scenario, but does Durant sign there without Irving? Funny to think that the Knicks, just 3 weeks ago, were looking at Zion, Kyrie, and KD, and now might be left with just Dennis Smith Jr to show from the Porzingis trade.
That leaves the Los Angeles teams. The Clippers can offer Gallinari's expiring and... some role players? Even with my Lakers bias aside, that's not nearly as exciting as just the 4th pick in the draft, let alone their ability to add a few players.
So what I'm really saying is, Pelicans fucked up not taking the Lakers offer in February.