“KD with a healthy Zion can be so dangerous” Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo urges Pelicans to offer a trade package for Kevin Durant
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Kevin Durant
Brooklyn Nets and Kevin Durant are finding it difficult to find suitable exchanges. Durant wants a trade away from the franchise while the Nets are not letting their star go cheaper. With many teams failing to clear both the criteria KD is still in black and white. But 62-year-old Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo believes the New Orleans Pelicans can create a massive package for the Brooklyn Nets and get Kevin Durant. New Orleans Pelicans is a small market team and hence not considered by many in Kevin Durant trade discussions. But Russo sees a great opportunity for the Pels to dominate the league in near future.
The Kevin Durant saga in Brooklyn has dominated the news this offseason. Every day there is news about his possible destinations and packages, but the asking price for a superstar of his stature is large. The Nets are demanding All-Star-caliber players in addition to multiple draft picks.
Mad Dog Russo collaborates Mega Star Kevin Durant with young star Zion Williamson
There are strong beliefs regarding the possible reunion of KD and reigning champions Golden State Warriors; as the team is easily in a position to make such a blockbuster trade. They have several young players and future picks to satisfy the Nets. However, Chris Russo has another franchise in mind. He believes Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans can form a formidable team if they could land KD this offseason.
On First Take Show the analyst said, “The team that I could see where he would be somewhat reasonable about going there and the Nets could get a big player back and build their team around … are the Pelicans. Because they can get Ingram back and they can build their team around Ingram and [Kevin Durant] would play in New Orleans.”
Adding the excitement with the trade, Russo explained, “I got a lot of young players and I got Williamson and they could be very very good … You put Durant on that team and I know that Ingram’s great, but Durant’s better. You put Durant in that team with a healthy Zion, that team could be very dangerous.”
The New Orleans Pelicans showed great resilience in the 2022 postseason, and have a playoff-ready roster. They outplayed the Clippers to make it to the playoffs, and their star forward, Zion Williamson, was not even involved in any games all year.
Russo suggests that the Nets would be happy to get Brandon Ingram taunted as – “Younger Kevin Durant” and some future picks against their 2-time finals MVP star. This hypothetical trade would create a Big 3 of Durant, Williamson, and McCollum, making them an instant contender. McCollum and KD are experienced enough to carry the team, while 2021 All-Star Williamson can be the high voltage energy player for them.
Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets get their wish as well. They can add one-time All-Star Ingram to their lineup and receive multiple draft picks. But just 1-time All-Star player against 12-time All-star Durant seems a bit unfair, and the Nets would want some role players also.
With the kind of package the Brooklyn Nets are demanding, not many teams are inclined to trade for Kevin Durant. There aren’t many teams that have the resources to acquire him unless 33-year-old Durant signs off on joining a rebuilding lottery team, which is more unlikely. So, there might be involvement of multiple teams in the trade if that is very much required.
As per Russo, if the Pelicans don’t make a trade, he will have to stay in Brooklyn and honor his contract. “Could I also see him going to the owner and saying, ‘You know what? I rescind. I want to be here.’ He’s also going to give a little mea culpa to the fans,” said Russo. “He’s got to say ‘You know what? My apologies. I’m committed to the Nets.’ He’s got to do that to the fans but I think right now those are the two spots.”
Brooklyn Nets owns complete rights to the KD trade and they are not in rush to trade him right away, especially with Kyrie and Ben Simmons playing at least for the 2023 season at the Nets.
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Kunal Chawda
(600 Articles Published)