The Brooklyn Nets along with the San Antonio Spurs and the Indiana Pacers joined the Los Angeles Lakers and Washington Wizards draft night blockbuster, making it a five-team trade.
The Lakers sent shockwaves to the world when they traded Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Wizards for Russell Westbrook.
The Wizards immediately searched for someone who can fill the void that Westbrook left in the point guard position and the Nets' Spencer Dinwiddie was their top priority.
It was reported that the Wizards offered the Nets any of the three newly acquired Kuzma, Harrell, and Caldwell-Pope in exchange for Dinwiddie. However, the Nets rejected the offer as they wanted the 2020 ninth overall pick Deni Avdija, per Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News.
Despite being crucial pieces to the Lakers last season, the Nets were not interested in acquiring the former Los Angeles players.
Washington were hesitant to give up Avdija since they view him as a long-term piece for their future. The incoming sophomore has yet to scratch the surface since he just averaged 6.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. However, he still has a lot of potential in him as he was a former Israeli MVP before entering the NBA.
The Nets instead got a trade exception that they can use anytime in the season. The trade exception can be used either to acquire a player in a trade for no outgoing salary. Brooklyn cannot use it to sign a free agent due to the hard cap rules associated with a sign-and-trade.
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