The Brooklyn Nets have traded Allen Crabbe, the No. 17 pick of the 2019 NBA Draft and a protected 2020 first round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Taurean Prince and a 2021 second round pick, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
This move clears up cap space and creates a max free agent spot for the Nets, preparing for their endeavours in the 2019 NBA Free Agency.
Brooklyn is clearing $18M in additional salary cap space for July, which gives the Nets $46M in salary cap space to sign a max free agent and even retain restricted free agent D'Angelo Russell. Without Russell, the Nets have two max salary slots. https://t.co/diOiBOkhOZ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 6, 2019
The Nets are planning to pursue Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving, who has a player option in this upcoming free agency market.
According to Wojnarowski , Irving "is serious about the Nets" and the Nets "are serious about beating the Knicks -- and rest of league -- to the biggest free agents in the marketplace."
Irving averaged 23.8 points, 6.9 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game on his way to an All-NBA Second Team honour this past season with the Celtics.
This is the first of many moves to come in the coming weeks, with free agency set to kick off on June 29.
