Nets Gearing Up for Huge Free Agent Moves by Dumping Allen Crabbe on Atlanta in Taurean Prince Deal

We're still in the middle of an exciting NBA Finals matchup between the Warriors and Raptors, but the Brooklyn Nets have already kicked off their offseason. With plenty of cap space needed this summer to make a big splash, they are preparing themselves for a revamped team with a timely trade.

In what should be the first of many Woj bombs in the near future, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that the Nets have traded Allen Crabbe, their 2019 first-round pick, and a protected 2020 first-rounder to the Atlanta Hawks for Taurean Prince and 2021 second-round pick.

The 2020 first is being reported by ESPN as top-14 protected. The Nets are giving up two valuable first-round picks, but they are getting a solid young player back in Taurean Prince, and most importantly, they truly had to get off of Crabbe's deal, as he's owed $18.5 million next year without anything remotely resembling the skill to justify it.

This move clears a second max contract slot for Brooklyn who will be aggressive in targeting free agents this summer. This allows them to go after a max free agent to pair with D'Angelo Russell, or to create a new superstar tandem. Kyrie Irving in particular has recently been heavily rumored as the main target of the Nets.

Brooklyn has completely recovered from their disastrous trade with the Celtics back in 2013. They've set in place a new winning culture, and are a major market destination ready to make noise. With a solid head coach in Kenny Atkinson and several promising players like Caris LeVert still coming into their own, the Nets could end up being the most coveted destination in the Five Boroughs at the Knicks' expense.