The Suns are reportedly attempting to reunite Kevin Durant with
certainly one of his former teammates from the Brooklyn Nets — Royce O’Neale.
In accordance with Brian Lewis of New York Post, per NetsDaily, the Suns have
provided Nassir Little and two second-round picks to the Nets for O’Neale, who’s
on an expiring $9.5 million contract. The report added that the Cavaliers and Pacers have additionally had exploratory talks with the Nets on a possible O’Neal commerce.
It was beforehand reported that the Nets were seeking at least a first-round pick or an equal participant for O’Neale, a prototypical 3-and-D wing coveted across the league for his defensive versatility and perimeter capturing. Nonetheless, with the NBA commerce deadline barely hours away, the Nets may very well be pressured to accept a lesser provide for O’Neale, per The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie.
“I don’t suppose O’Neale will return a first-round choose, however he may yield some lower-level draft capital for a Nets group that wants all of the youth it could discover, whatever the franchise’s general route,” Veceniewrote in his trade deadline preview article.
In addition to O’Neale, the Nets are reportedly holding a fireplace sale by inserting others resembling Dorian Finney-Smith, Dennis Smith Jr. and Spencer
Dinwiddie additionally available on the market. Nic Claxton was one other Web beforehand believed to be obtainable, however a number of insiders have dominated out the potential of Brooklyn
transport the athletic large man.
As for the Suns, the addition of O’Neale may show to be important,
given his familiarity with taking part in alongside Durant and his means to protect
a number of positions. The Suns presently have a really skinny rotation, with solely
Eric Gordon and Josh Okogie receiving constant minutes off the bench. Going into
the playoffs, Suns coach Frank Vogel would like to have a lockdown defender
and profession 38 p.c three-point shooter resembling O’Neale to depend upon.
