'Incredible coup': Brooklyn Nets in $430m swoop for KD and Irving
New Zealander Sean Marks has transformed the ugly duckling Brooklyn Nets into the NBA's new power by snaring superstar free agents Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in a $305 million ($A434m) play.
Marks, the first New Zealand-born player to play in the NBA, became general manager of the hapless Nets in 2016 and through astute choices built a group of unheralded players into a team that made the playoffs last season.
They will have two All-Stars and veteran centre DeAndre Jordan to make the team a legitimate chance to claim the Eastern Conference and fight for a title.
Durant, despite likely missing the coming season with an achilles tear, and Irving were two of the jewels of the NBA free agent signing period that opened on Sunday evening (8am Monday AEST).
Forward Durant, an NBA MVP, two-time NBA champion and 10-time All-Star, will leave the Golden State Warriors and join the Nets on a four-year max deal worth $US164m ($A233.4m), he announced on the Instagram account linked to his ESPN-owned site, The Boardroom.
Melbourne-born point guard Irving, an NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers and six-time All-Star, is fleeing the Boston Celtics, after a tumultuous season, to link up with Durant in Brooklyn in a four-year, $US141 ($A200.6m) deal.
The 211cm tall Jordan, a two-time NBA All-Defensive team member, played with the Dallas Mavericks and Brooklyn's cross-town rival New York Knicks last season.
Billion-dollar madness
In other major free agent moves, Charlotte's All-Star guard Kemba Walker has reportedly agreed to join the Celtics on a four-year $US141 ($A200.6m) deal.
Australia's All-Star Ben Simmons is expected to sign a five-year, $US168m ($A239m) contract extension with the Philadelphia 76ers as early as Monday.
ESPN reported the 76ers have begun talks with Simmons' agent Rich Paul.
The 76ers, however, lost their sharpshooter JJ Redick who is heading to the New Orleans Pelicans on a two-year $US26.5m ($A37.7m) contract.
Philly's All-Star guard/forward Jimmy Butler may also leave and he is reportedly in talks to join the Miami Heat.
Kawhi Leonard, after leading the Toronto Raptors to their first championship, is also a free agent but is not expected to rush to make a decision.
Brooklyn is making a clean sweep tonight: Brooklyn will sign Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
Incredible coup for the Brooklyn Nets and a gut punch for the New York Knicks: Kevin Durant is expected to sign with Brooklyn and will reportedly be joined by Kyrie Irving: https://t.co/1h4WDa3e6i
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 30, 2019
Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert, Joe Harris, Garrett Temple, Kevin Durant, Jarrett Allen, DeAndre Jordan, plus Musa and Kurucs
Loaded roster for a team that cleared out two max cap spots.
Take a bow, Sean Marks, Trajan Langdon, and everyone in that rebuild.— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) June 30, 2019
Brooklyn landing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving shows the importance of building a franchise with organizational alignment and a positive culture. The Nets are total opposite of James Dolan and the dysfunctional Knicks. New York must spend the coming years repairing their image.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 30, 2019
Kevin Durant ($164 million) and Kyrie Irving ($141 million) are both signing with the Nets on four-year deals, @wojespn reports pic.twitter.com/2prLCJSWU2
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 30, 2019
Kevin Durant x Kyrie Irving
KD and Kyrie are expected to sign with the Brooklyn Nets, league sources tell @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/K0IGXb0xy3— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 30, 2019
with agencies and Yahoo Sports