OKC needs to appease Durant in the next two years if they have any plans of keeping him in 2016. With that in mind, here are a couple of (I think) fair trades that we could use to help OKC retain Durant, while picking up assets ourselves. I've ranked them in descending order from most desirable to least desirable.
Trade 1: Boston sends Rajon Rondo and Kelly Olynyk to OKC for Steven Adams, Reggie Jackson, Kendrick Perkins, and a top 5 protected OKC first round draft pick in 2017.
Why Boston does it: In this trade they collect further assets for their rebuild. Adams will be their future rim protector. Jackson is an excellent offensive guard who would excel next to Smart, and they bring back a fan favorite (purely as salary filler). This depth chart looks pretty promising for the future:
PG: Jackson, Smart
SG: Bradley, Young
SF: Green, Turner, Wallace
PF: Sullinger, Bass
C: Adams, Zeller, Perkins
Also, they get a fairly unprotected first round draft pick two years after Rondo's free agency and one year after Durant's, so there's always a chance that the pick could be higher if things don't work out. Finally, this is a fairly good haul for Rondo, and, though we lose a good prospect in Kelly, we gain two prospects with just as high, if not higher, ceilings than Olynyk.
Why OKC does it: I think this trade would immediately put OKC as title favorites. A starting lineup of Rondo, Westbrook, Durant, Ibaka, and Olynyk is sick on both sides of the ball. Losing both Perk and Adams would hurt their C depth, and they would need to pick up a defensive minded C off the bench. However, gaining Rondo to distribute to four other offensive threats is worth it. Furthermore, Ibaka plays the role of rim protector as it is now anyways, so they could role with Olynyk without sacrificing too much defense and drastically improving their offense out of the 5. Also, Westbrook is better suited at the 2 guard. Can you imagine Rondo dropping dimes to four legitimate outside threats?!
Trade 2:Boston sends Jeff Green and Brandon Bass to OKC for Steven Adams, Perry Jones III, and Kendrick Perkins
Why Boston does it: While again getting us our rim protector in Steven Adams, it also clears Green and Bass off of our books giving Turner and Young more time at the 3. Furthermore, it clears us for (potentially, assuming Green doesn't opt out) more money off of the books next year. Jones is also an intriguing player with upside.
Why OKC does it: This would arguably make them an even better defensive team than what they are. Westbrook, Green, Durant, Bass, and Ibaka is a hell of a defensive unit, and Green and Bass offer more offensively than their old unit with Sefalosha and Perkins. Again, you'd have to slide Ibaka over to the 5 to be the rim protector, but I think he can handle it.
I think the first trade is much better for both sides than the last trade. Losing Rondo and Olynyk would suck, but the haul coming back would justify it. Which of the above trades would you consent to, if any?