It’s been reported that the Boston Celtics have the strongest trade package to get former NBA MVP Kevin Durant, but would it make sense for the Celtics to make a move now?
It’s a question that’s been circling around the league:
“Which team will Kevin Durant join?”
After three seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, it appears that Kevin Durant’s tenure in Brooklyn is coming to an end after requesting a trade on June 30…
Then, is it?
While the Nets appear to be fine with dragging this scenario with Durant into training camp, which begins late September, recent information on the status of trade talks indicates that the Boston Celtics may be able to land him.
NBA All-Star wing Jaylen Brown was recently offered by the Boston Celtics as part of a trade for Kevin Durant according to The Athletic.com’s Shams Charania.
Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and a draft selection were offered by the Celtics in this rumored transaction, but the Nets rejected this approach and requested Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and several draft picks and possibly another player to be included in the deal. The Celtics, according to Charania, are currently pondering the best way to proceed in negotiations with the Nets.
As a result, not only is this a significant development for Kevin Durant, but he might also be dealt to the club that just lost the NBA Finals in 2022.
The Boston Celtics, who were eliminated in the NBA Finals after six games by the Golden State Warriors, now have their sights set on winning their 18th championship banner.
The Celtics’ All-Star tandem of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, who are both 25 years old or younger, is one of the greatest in the game, not only because they have become one of the league’s top defensive teams.
President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens, on the other hand, may find it difficult to turn down the opportunity to sign Kevin Durant to a championship-contending team.
When it comes to this season, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Al Horford are the Celtics’ starting five for the 2021-22 season. Due to a lack of depth in recent seasons, the Celtics acquired Derrick White before the trade deadline and then signed Malcolm Brogdon and veteran Danilo Gallinari this offseason.
With their championship identity constructed on the defensive end of the floor, making a trade for Kevin Durant of this magnitude might definitely throw this team’s equilibrium off.
It’s also worth noting that this isn’t just any player we’re talking about… One of the best NBA players of all time, Kevin Durant is here.
This is a big decision for the Celtics since they have a rare opportunity to acquire an all-time great who is still in the prime of his career.
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However, the Boston Celtics must be mindful of the reality that they are just two wins away from a championship if they are to go “all-in” and team Kevin Durant with Jayson Tatum.
Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari would have given the Celtics a better chance of winning their recent series against the Golden State Warriors if they were both on the team.
The merits and downsides of this deal are unknown to both sides, unlike many others in the NBA where a “yes” or “no” answer seems to be a simple “yes” or “no.”
Will the Celtics sacrifice too much depth, defensive intensity, and long-term success in order to win the postseason with Kevin Durant in the lineup?
It’s too soon to say what the future holds for Durant, Brooklyn, and Boston, as the NBA is likely to remain quiet until training camp begins in late September.