Chaos has surrounded Brooklyn since Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant decided to join the Nets in the summer of 2019. Now — after dealing Irving to the Mavericks and Durant to the Suns this week ahead of the NBA trade deadline — the Nets are left in shambles and are looking to pick up the pieces.
The Nets went all-in trying to add around Irving and Durant, notably with the costly 2021 trade for James Harden. Future assets are now coming back after the Nets acquired five unprotected first-round picks and a slew of players in exchange for Durant and Irving this week.
The rebuild is on, and GM Sean Marks is on the hot seat to nail this one after a failure of epic proportions.
Nets GM Sean Marks on Sept. 28, 2022 before this season began. Getty ImagesPicks lost in the James Harden trade with Rockets (2021)
- Acquiring Harden in 2021 from Houston, the Nets traded first-round draft picks in 2024 and 2026, with the Rockets also having the right to swap options in 2023, 2025, and 2027.
Picks acquired in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving trades
- Four unprotected first-round picks from the Phoenix Suns in 2023, 2025, 2027, and 2029 with an option to swap picks in 2028 with the Suns.
- 2029 Mavericks first-round pick and second-round picks in 2027 and 2029.
- The Nets also flipped Jae Crowder, whom they acquired from the Suns for Durant, to the Milwaukee Bucks for five second-round picks. The years of those picks are not yet known.
Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving during the 2021 NBA playoffs. NBAE via Getty ImagesBrooklyn Nets future draft pick stash
- 2023 Suns first-round pick
- 2023 Nets first-round pick (HOU can swap)
- 2023 First-round pick (HOU or 76ers)
- 2025 Suns first-round pick
- 2025 Nets first-round pick (HOU can swap)
- 2025 Heat second-round pick (top-37 protected)
- 2026 Nets second-round pick
- 2027 76ers first-round pick (top-eight protected)
- 2027 Suns first-round pick
- 2027 Nets first-round pick (HOU can swap)
- 2027 Mavericks second-round pick
- 2028 Nets first-round pick (Can swap with Suns)
- 2028 Nets second-round pick
- 2029 Mavericks first-round pick
- 2029 Suns first-round pick
- 2029 Nets first-round pick
- 2029 Nets second-round pick
- 2029 Mavericks second-round pick
* Five second-round picks have also reportedly been acquired by the Nets from the Bucks in return for Jae Crowder.
