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Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo sits on the bench. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
The Brooklyn Nets might have a chance to drastically improve their roster with trades for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant this offseason. Brooklyn has not been mentioned in rumors about Antetokounmpo trades due to their terrible season tanking for a high draft pick. However, many around the league expect the Nets to have a fast turnaround and try to become a contender in the Eastern Conference again.
Clutch Points’ Tomer Azarly reported the following about Giannis and Ja potentially teaming up:
“Giannis and Ja Morant have expressed interest in playing together. Ja is not expected to be in a Grizzlies uniform next season, so I think they’re expecting a trade there. Could they be partnered together? I think they’d be very much interested in a partnership there. I don’t think it will be in Memphis, and I don’t think it will be Milwaukee.
I’d love to see Ja Morant and Giannis play together in Brooklyn, and if they get AJ Dybantsa No. 1 in the draft, I think that would be a really dynamic team with the depth that they could build there.”
The biggest news here is that Antetokounmpo and Morant would enjoy to team up as two of the top names on the trade block this summer. Both players are expected to be traded and one team going after both could solve their respective issues by teaming up.
Why Brooklyn Surprisingly Makes Perfect Sense
The Nets have tanked over the past two seasons after trading away pieces like Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson for future assets. However, Brooklyn does not own their own draft pick next season and has the stress of pick swaps due to some of their previous trades.
Losing next year will be a terrible thing for the franchise, but they lack the current talent to threaten for the playoffs. Reports have circulated for years that Nets General Manager Sean Marks views Giannis as his dream target. Brooklyn reportedly kept Bridges longer due to the pipe dream of having Antetokounmpo teaming up with him.
This offseason sees the Nets having the third most cap space to give them the chance to make trades where they take on massive salary. A desire to win and the ability to bring on new players should see Brooklyn active this summer with any relevant name available.
What Can The Nets Trade?
Brooklyn has five rookies on the roster this season, and all showed various flashes of brilliance to hold some value. Talented young point guard Nolan Traore and a future first round pick could be enough to make a Morant trade work since Ja’s value is at an all-time low.
Giannis is the much harder trade since he’s the biggest name on the market. The Nets would have to part with a slew of the current rookies (especially Egor Demin) and future first round draft picks. One positive is that they own other teams picks to make it less risky to trade.
Brooklyn must sacrifice their youth movement to add both players and hope to have enough role players to make the team work. The big market of New York City and the chance to rebuild a contending roster could land them two All-Stars.
Joey Haverford Joey Haverford is a seasoned sports content writer with over 12 years of experience. He has covered the NBA, WNBA, MLB, NFL, and professional wrestling in the sports industry. More about Joey Haverford
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