The era of the Nets’ Big Three has officially come to a tumultuous end, with Brooklyn trading superstar Kevin Durant.
Sources tell SNY’s Ian Begley that Brooklyn and the Phoenix Suns have agreed in principal to trade Durant for Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder and multiple first-round picks.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the haul for the Nets includes four first-rounders, and a 2028 pick swap for Durant and TJ Warren.
Johnson brings his 6-foot-8 frame to Brooklyn where in 17 games this season, the 26-year-old is averaging 13.9 points and nearly four rebounds per game. He suffered a knee injury on Nov. 4 and underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He returned on Jan. 19 against the Nets.
In 56 games this season, Bridges is averaging 17 points, four rebounds and nearly four assists per game.
Crowder has not played a game for the Suns this season. The veteran forward and the organization didn’t see eye-to-eye on his role. In his career, the forward is averaging 9.6 points and four rebounds per game.
The Durant trade comes just days after the club dealt fellow star Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks, acquiring forward Dorian Finney-Smith, guard Spencer Dinwiddie, a 2029 first-round pick and multiple second-round picks.
Durant and Irving teamed up in the summer of 2019, with each player signing a four-year deal in Brooklyn with the hopes of winning at least one NBA title. Then, in January of 2021, the Nets swung a three-team deal to land James Harden, giving the Nets a Big Three as talented as any in the league.
But as exciting as it was for the Nets to land all three stars, things quickly flamed out. Harden requested a trade and was dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers before the 2022 deadline, and after both Irving and Durant requested to be moved this past summer, they’re gone now too.
In total, the trio of Durant, Irving, and Harden played just 16 regular season games together with one playoff series win, and Durant and Irving played just 74 regular season games together.
Durant now joins his fourth NBA team, following time with the Seattle Supersonics/Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors and Nets.