Sources: Nets commerce Crabbe to Hawks for Prince
Adrian WojnarowskiESPN
The Brooklyn Nets are buying and selling guard Allen Crabbe and his $18.5 million contract to the Atlanta Hawks, clearing the salary-cap area to pursue two most free-agent contracts this summer season, league sources instructed ESPN.
The Nets are sending Crabbe, the No. 17 choose within the 2019 NBA draft, and a 2020 lottery-protected first-round choose to the Hawks for ahead Taurean Prince and a 2021 second-round choose, league sources mentioned. The deal cannot be finalized till July 6.
Boston guard Kyrie Irving — who is anticipated to turn out to be a free agent — and Brooklyn have a powerful mutual curiosity, league sources instructed ESPN. The Nets have $46 million in salary-cap area to signal two maximum-contract free brokers, which would come with Brooklyn’s dream situation of luring Irving and Golden State’s Kevin Durant to the franchise, league sources mentioned.
The Knicks are pursuing the identical partnership, however league sources say that Irving’s curiosity within the Nets has elevated and Brooklyn has emerged as a critical contender to draw Irving. The Nets might hold restricted free agent guard D’Angelo Russell on a max — or near-max — deal to play with a free-agent star too.
The Hawks have three picks within the prime 20 now, together with Nos. eight, 10 and 17. Atlanta might bundle these picks to maneuver up within the draft, in fact, or embrace them in different offers to keep away from selecting three first-rounders in what’s thought of a weak draft. The Hawks have an impressive younger core, together with Trae Younger and John Collins.