What would a Kevin Durant to Cleveland Cavaliers trade look like?

What would a realistic trade between the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers look like if Kevin Durant was dealt?

I don’t think the Cleveland Cavaliers should trade for Kevin Durant. Not truly. That said, I didn’t realize how obtainable he could be financially until I sat down with the Fanspo trade machine (much more detailed than the ESPN one) and actually did the math.

Basically, it comes down to being able to get Collin Sexton to agree to a sign-and-trade. For the sake of the process, I had him agree to a four-year, $80-ish million dollar deal. Though a four-year, $100 million deal may work too.

By converting Sexton’s contract to a sign-and-trade situation, the Cavs can pull off a trade for Kevin Durant and Joe Harris without giving up Lauri Markkanen or Kevin Love. Those are two pieces I think the Cavs need to hold on to in any situation, and being able to pull this trade-off while retaining both was the focus.

So here’s what the Cavs gave up and got back for Durant.

Why this Kevin Durant trade makes sense for the Cleveland Cavaliers

So, as you see, the Nets are getting four players, and seven draft picks. All the picks are guaranteed but two, with the 2024 pick having a Top 5 protection and the 2028 pick having a Top 8 protection. The other two are picks-swaps, with the Nets getting the better positioning of the swaps.

The second-rounders are the Warriors, Lakers, and Bucks that the Cavs have a claim to.

Then, of course, the four players are Caris LeVert, Sexton, Dylan Windler, and Isaac Okoro.

Now with the Rudy Gobert trade having happened, and the Timberwolves sending back four picks and a host of players, this may seem like a bargain for the Cavs, but I actually think it’s a better offering than what the Timberwolves got.

The Jazz got Patrick Beverly (34), oft-injured Malik Beasley, bench player Jarred Vanderbilt, project Leandro Bolmaro, rookie prospect Walker Kessler, and unprotected firsts in 2023, ’25, ’27, a pick swap in ’26, and finally a top-four protected pick in ’29.

Of those players, one, Beasley, will see any real-time and that is if he’s healthy. Caris LeVert alone is better value than the four men with NBA experience. Isaac Okoro is on par if not better value than Kessler, with Collin Sexton being a better value on his own than all five of the players the Jazz got back.

Let’s also point out that should this trade pan out for at least the next three-to-four years, the Jazz is going to be picking right next to the second round in 2023, 2025, and 2026. They also may not be getting much on the 2027 pick either. 2029 is, realistically, the first year the Jazz may get a lottery pick.

So two first-rounders, two pick-swaps, and three second-round picks I think are equal value to what the Jazz got, while the player return is much, much better than what the Jazz got.

The Nets will have three instant starters in LeVert, Sexton, and Okoro and maybe a Joe Harris-like shooter in Windler, but one who plays better defense.

The Cavs would then have a lineup of Darius Garland at point guard, Harris (returning to Cleveland) at shooting guard, Durant at small forward, Evan Mobley at power forward, and Jarrett Allen at center.

While Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, Lauri Markkanen, and Ochai Agbaji coming off the bench as the primary off-bench role players.