« Reply #771 on: August 24, 2022, 12:23:52 PM »
Numerous NBA executives who spoke with HoopsHype believe the Rudy Gobert trade made it harder for Kevin Durant to be moved. The draft pick compensation Utah received from Minnesota was considered such a lopsided haul for Utah around the league that if the Nets got anything less than that for Durant, Brooklyn’s front office would’ve looked foolish, according to numerous rival executives.
I think this is a really interesting question. If another negotiator massively overpays for a commodity, does that make a subsequent negotiator look "foolish" if he sells a similar or superior commodity at a lesser value? What if that "lesser value" is in line with, or better than, all previous sales except for the outlier?
The thing is, the Nets absolutely could have gotten the same level of draft picks and probably a better player than anyone in the Gobert trade. I mean the Pelicans could have traded them something like 7 picks (not saying they would, but they could have). The reason Durant wasn't traded was because the Nets wanted so much more than just draft picks. In addition to all of the picks, they also wanted a younger star and a starter level player (and perhaps a rotation level player). The draft picks weren't the issue, it was the total ask that was the issue.
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2023 Historical Draft - Brooklyn Nets - 9th pick
Bigs - Pau, Amar'e, Issel, McGinnis, Roundfield
Wings - Dantley, Bowen, J. Jackson
Guards - Cheeks, Petrovic, Buse, Rip