The Nets failed to rush the championship this season and lost to the Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but that doesn't mean they're losers, and being able to get Harden through a trade at the beginning of the season is the most successful operation. They've long set their sights on the coming seasons, so they won't stop just because they're out early this year.
However, the Nets are somewhat unhappy with Irving, according to New York reporter Sullivan, because Irving's behavior in the regular season is weird, so it is possible that Nets general manager Max will listen to the deal offer about Irving in the offseason.
The US media FW believes that the player most likely interested in the Nets is Lillard, after the first round of the playoffs again, Lillard may lose patience with the team, they have been running with the playoffs many times, and have worked hard for many years but still have not improved. Although Lillard has expressed loyalty to the team many times, but after so many failures, he may also change his original intention and offer a trade. So the FW also planned a trade plan for the Nets and Trail Blazers. Play their proper role! Lillard's 1-for-2 plan: the Nets' Big Three upgrade, Irving again as the boss
The specific plan is: the Nets send Irving and Brown, and get Lillard of the Blazers
Lillard, a top-ten star in the league, has played super-strong in many seasons, averaging 34.3 points and 10.2 assists per game in the playoffs this year, making him the guard that any team wants. Most teams have to pay a lot of young players and draft picks for Lillard, but the Nets don't have to.
Irving is also a three-team defender and has been selected for the 180 club, and his attack is more efficient than Lillard's, and indeed replaces Lillard's role in the Blazers, once again becoming the boss of a team. Irving is a year younger than Lillard, and his annual salary next season is 9 million less than Lillard's, and this gap is the space that allows the team to get reinforcements. Brown is the Nets' main player in the playoffs, he can play in multiple positions, the Nets let him play the inside of the small lineup, has a good effect on the offensive end.
Although Irving and Durant and Harden are good friends, if the Nets trade he can get a greater chance of winning the championship, it is still very likely to press the trade button. The biggest problem between the Big Three is not the run-in, but injuries, which have missed a lot of games this season, and if Irving is not injured, the Nets will most likely not lose to the Bucks. Injuries are uncontrollable, but Irving has a relatively serious injury history, and has been reimbursed in the Cavaliers, Green Army and Nets for the season, and Lillard can be called a model worker, with a high attendance rate every season, and rarely misses important games.
So Lillard can help the Nets, make it easier in the regular season, and be on the court in key moments in the playoffs. And his abilities are similar to Irving's, so he can immediately integrate into the Nets' system. If the Nets really want to trade Irving, Lillard is definitely the right person, and the strength of the Big Three has been upgraded again.