Brooklyn Nets: Resetting market after Anthony Davis domino falls

The New Orleans Pelicans reportedly have a deal in place to move Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers. How do the ripples affect the Brooklyn Nets?

With all due respect to Allen Crabbe and the Brooklyn Nets, the biggest move of the NBA offseason thus far has taken shape with the reported trade that will send three-time All-NBA big man Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers to team with LeBron James.

There are still details to work out in the deal, specifically with regard to the timing of it — per Albert Nahmad, the Lakers can wiggle their way to a max slot to add a free agent if the New Orleans Pelicans agree to defer the deal to July 30.

There are lots of moving parts to that equation, primarily the Pelicans letting the No. 4 pick in the NBA draft they acquired from the Lakers sign with L.A., which would allow the Lakers to operate over the cap to add the free agent of their choosing (read: a point guard) while waiting on the 30-day clock to expire so they could trade the player selected at No. 4.

Given that the Pelicans — or the player taken with the fourth overall pick — may not be so cool with that, the Lakers would lack the ability to get to a max slot if the deal is made official on July 6, regardless of whether Davis waives his trade kicker or not.

Here's a breakdown of what's going on with the timing of the AD trade. While the Pelicans are open to moving back the date of execution, that's going to depend on whoever has the No. 4 pick being willing to wait that long. A tough ask that doesn't seem likely. https://t.co/L0WfXpIkj4
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) June 16, 2019

That max slot is relevant to the Nets in this regard: Per David Aldridge of The Athletic (subscription required), Los Angeles would like to get to a max slot to pursue one of the top point guards on the free-agent market, either Kemba Walker or Kyrie Irving.

Walker is eligible for a five-year, $221 million designated-player extension (a.k.a., a supermax), while reports have Irving basically already having a locker at the Nets practice facility.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said Friday on the network’s The Russillo Show that Irving is leaning heavily toward Brooklyn, despite the obvious connection to James from their three seasons together with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"“He is pretty focused on Brooklyn right now and Boston, I think, is losing a grip on him … if not already having lost a grip on him. I think they’ve known that for awhile.”"

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As for that No. 4 pick the Lakers sent to The Big Easy, along with Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, a top-eight protected 2021 first-round pick that becomes unprotected in 2022, an unprotected 2024 first-rounder that can be deferred until 2025 and the Pelicans’ option to swap first-round picks in 2023, New Orleans may be looking to shuffle it for additional assets.

Fletcher Mackel of NBC New Orleans reported the Pelicans may be looking to move down in the draft and pick up a protected 2020 first-round pick in the process by trading the No. 4 overall pick to either the Phoenix Suns or the Chicago Bulls — two teams with a professed interest in Vanderbilt point guard Darius Garland.

The Irving-to-Brooklyn reports keep gaining steam. Nets Daily‘s Anthony Puccio reported Sunday that multiple players and staff members with the Nets believe Irving will be with the club next season and that D’Angelo Russell, a restricted free agent, will not be.

Players are definitely aware things are moving fast right now.

pic.twitter.com/Kqqj7q3WK4
— Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) June 17, 2019

Rodions Kurucs, the Nets’ second-round pick from Latvia who wound up starting 46 games for Brooklyn last season, told Brian Lewis of the New York Post that he is very cognizant of the situation around the team right now.

"“We have space for two max deals, right? So they will definitely add some star and for sure will make the team bigger and better.”"

There is also buzz the Nets may get a meeting with restricted free agent Kristaps Porzingis, traded from the New York Knicks to the Dallas Mavericks in January. One of Porzingis’ preferred destinations when he made his trade request was Brooklyn.

Porzingis, as reported by Nets Daily, told Latvian TV:

"“It’s planned that I’ll be in the U.S. at the beginning of July — a couple of meetings are scheduled. After that, with the club’s permission, I would stay in the United States or go back to Latvia to prepare for the upcoming season.”"

Porzingis did not play last season after tearing an ACL in February 2018.

Finally, there was a report from Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders that indicated the Nets are one of the teams in on Houston Rockets big man Clint Capela, one of the players on Houston’s roster (read, everyone) that was made available by general manager Daryl Morey recently.

Brooklyn's primary focus has been the draft and clearing as much space for free agency... The two teams, I heard had the deepest conversations on Capela were Boston #1 and Brooklyn #2... with KD uncertain, we'll see. https://t.co/1gBAxS88iG
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) June 16, 2019

The NBA Draft is Thursday night at Barclays Center. Free agents can begin meeting with teams at 6 p.m. Eastern on June 30.

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The rumor mill will be at full churn in the interim.