It’s almost like Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks channeled his inner Billy King and said, “hold my beer“.
The Brooklyn Nets have made an even bigger bet on top-tier talent than they did when they gave the Boston Celtics three unprotected first-round draft picks and a pick swap for aging Celtics stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry in 2013, since viewed as one of the most lopsided trades in league history. Trading for disgruntled Houston Rockets star James Harden, the Nets have now dealt away four unprotected first-round picks and as many pick swaps as part of a four-team blockbuster.
How it started How it’s going pic.twitter.com/pDbbcF5Ita
— Mike Gavin (@MikeGavin7) January 13, 2021
And while in the trade for Boston’s aging stars sent back mostly irrelevant players like Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, Marshon Brooks, Kris Joseph, and Keith Bogans, Brooklyn also sent out promising young players as well in Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will roster Allen and Prince, the Indiana Pacers LeVert, and the Rockets Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum and Rodions Kurucs.
Brooklyn? Just James Harden — on a roster with an AWOL star in Kyrie Irving — and not much else to speak of after superstar Kevin Durant, an aging DeAndre Jordan and an even older Jeff Green.
Maybe this time, it’ll work.
