The Brooklyn Nets nearly added yet another asset this summer during a potential Kyrie Irving sign-and-trade with the Boston Celtics.
Even after landing Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, Sean Marks‘ summer of riches nearly grew in wealth. Let that sink in for a second.
In his recent article on the Al Horford debacle miscommunication with Boston — which ultimately led the 33-year-old center into signing with the conference rival Philadelphia 76ers — Boston Herald writer Steve Bulpett detailed a potential Kyrie Irving-based sign-and-trade that could have affected the outcome.
According to Bulpett, Boston developed a three-team trade with the Brooklyn Nets and the Charlotte Hornets, created to assist the Celtics in staying under the salary cap regulations and ultimately giving them the chance to retain Al Horford.
The deal flipped Kyrie Irving to Brooklyn, Terry Rozier to Charlotte and Kemba Walker to Boston. Of course, in Bulpett’s words, Brooklyn would have “wanted something of value in exchange for doing the Celts a favor” by participating (versus just signing Irving outright).
Said Bulpett’s sources, the price of giving up an asset to Brooklyn “could have been met” by Boston.
The article made no indication of what or who that theorized asset may have been. But given Marks’ trickery in swindling a protected first from Golden State during the D’Angelo Russell-Kevin Durant sign-and-trade, one can imagine the Kiwi GM would’ve tried Celtics’ GM Danny Ainge’s hand as well.
Or, perhaps Brooklyn was looking at a young asset like Semi Ojeleye — who, by the way, would have greatly fit the Nets’ gaping hole at the four.
Seriously though: Can you imagine if Sean Marks had potentially possessed two protected firsts in next summers draft? That fantasy land was nearly a reality. Talk about an interesting possible subplot for an already exciting season.
