Nets to trade Crabbe, two first-round picks to Hawks for Prince

The Brooklyn Nets agreed to trade guard Allen Crabbe and two first-round picks to the Atlanta Hawks for forward Taurean Prince and a second-round pick, ESPN reported Thursday. The Nets will clear Crabbe's $18.5 million salary for 2019-20, giving them cap space to sign two maximum-level contracts in free agency this summer.

According to the report, they will receive a 2021 second-round pick while sending the Hawks their first-rounder, 17th overall, in the draft later this month and a lottery-protected first-rounder in 2020. No trades can be made official until July 6.

ESPN also reports the Nets have "strong mutual interest" with Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving, who is expected to opt out of his contract and become a free agent. Brooklyn's "dream scenario" would be to sign both Irving and Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant. The New York Knicks have also been rumored to be interested in both players.

The deal gives the Hawks three first-round picks this year, along with Nos. 8 and 10. A separate ESPN report last week said Atlanta could be interested in trading up to the Knicks' draft slot at No. 3 overall.

The 2019 class has widely been viewed as thin, with three players -- Duke's Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett plus Murray State's Ja Morant -- pegged as the consensus top three prospects before a drop-off to the next tier. Crabbe, 27, averaged 9.6 points and 3.4 rebounds across 43 games (20 starts) for the Nets last season after he posted 13.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in 75 games (68 starts) in his first season with the Nets in 2017-18. He spent the first four years of his career with Portland.

Prince, 25, averaged 13.5 points and 3.6 rebounds in 55 games (47 starts) last year for Atlanta, slightly down from his numbers in 2017-18. The Hawks acquired him in a 2016 draft-night trade with the Utah Jazz, who took Prince 12th overall. 

(With inputs from agencies.)