NBA Trade Rumors: DeMar DeRozan Could Complete Brooklyn’s ‘Big 3’ In Hypothetical Nets-Spurs Blockbuster Deal
The successful acquisition of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant last summer has transformed the Brooklyn Nets from an average playoff team to a legitimate title contender in the Eastern Conference. However, though they have yet to see their roster at its full strength, rumors are circulating that the Nets are still eyeing major upgrades by targeting a third superstar in the 2020 NBA offseason. In the past months, Brooklyn has already been linked to several NBA superstars who could potentially be available on the trade market this fall, including All-Star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan of the San Antonio Spurs.
In his most recent article for the outlet, Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report created a list of one offseason trade every NBA team should consider this fall. For the Nets, he suggested that they may consider offering a trade package that includes Caris LeVert and Spencer Dinwiddie to the Spurs in exchange for DeRozan. Before pushing forward with the trade, the Spurs would first need to convince DeRozan to opt into his $27.7 million player option for the 2020-21 NBA season.
“DeRozan brings a combination of scoring, playmaking and playoff experience to a Nets team that should be one of the NBA’s best in 2020-21. He would need to opt in to his $27.7 million player option for the trade to work, but the chance to play alongside two of the game’s greatest talents may be too much to pass up. Brooklyn’s new starting lineup of Kyrie Irving, DeRozan, Kevin Durant, Taurean Prince and Jarrett Allen may be the best in the East.”
As a subpar three-point shooter, DeRozan may not exactly possess the No. 1 skill needed in the modern NBA. However, he could still help the Nets become a more competitive unit in the Eastern Conference next season and could enable them to create their own “Big Three” with Irving and Durant. His playoff experience would be highly valued on the Nets, who haven’t advanced to the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs since 2014.
At the moment, DeRozan has yet to show a strong indication that he already wants out of San Antonio, but at this point in his career, he might prefer to play for a legitimate title contender. Though it would force him to make a huge adjustment with his game, joining forces with Irving and Durant in Brooklyn would give the 30-year-old a legitimate chance of winning his first NBA championship.
Meanwhile, the proposed trade could also be beneficial to the Spurs. Aside from preventing themselves from losing DeRozan as an unrestricted free agent without getting anything in return, the organization would be acquiring two intriguing players in LeVert and Dinwiddie, who could both be part of the next title-contending team in San Antonio.
