Sources: Nets trade Crabbe to Hawks for Prince

The Brooklyn Nets are trading guard Allen Crabbe and his $18.5 million contract to the Atlanta Hawks, clearing the salary-cap space to pursue two maximum free-agent contracts this summer, league sources told ESPN.

The Nets are sending Crabbe, the No. 17 pick in the 2019 NBA draft, and a 2020 lottery-protected first-round pick to the Hawks for forward Taurean Prince and a 2021 second-round pick, league sources said. The deal can’t be finalized until July 6.

Boston guard Kyrie Irving — who is expected to become a free agent — and Brooklyn have a strong mutual interest, league sources told ESPN. The Nets have $46 million in salary-cap space to sign two maximum-contract free agents, which would include Brooklyn’s dream scenario of luring Irving and Golden State’s Kevin Durant to the franchise, league sources said.

The Knicks are pursuing the same partnership, but league sources say that Irving’s interest in the Nets has increased and Brooklyn has emerged as a serious contender to attract Irving. The Nets could keep restricted free agent guard D’Angelo Russell on a max — or near-max — deal to play with a free-agent star too.

The Hawks have three picks in the top 20 now, including Nos. 8, 10 and 17. Atlanta could package those picks to move up in the draft, of course, or include them in other deals to avoid picking three first-rounders in what’s considered a weak draft. The Hawks have an outstanding young core, including Trae Young and John Collins.