The Boston Celtics “engaged in talks” with the Brooklyn Nets on a trade centered around 12x all-star, 2x NBA Finals MVP, and 1x NBA MVP Kevin Durant, per a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Durant, 33, averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists on 52%/38%/91% shooting splits last season for the Nets.
The Celtics reportedly offered Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and a draft pick for Durant, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Brooklyn reportedly countered with an ask for reigning Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, more draft picks, and another player.
A trade package of Brown, White, Smart, multiple first-round picks, and Grant Williams is likely too great of a cost for Celtics’ President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens to stomach, even for Durant.
Brown, 25, averaged 23.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists on 47%/36%/76% shooting splits last season – and was seemingly none too happy to hear his name mentioned in trade rumors.
https://twitter.com/FCHWPO/status/1551581600973959168
It seems highly unlikely the Celtics would trade both White and Smart, especially with newly-acquired guard Malcolm Brogdon recovering from injury.
If the Celtics do land Durant, they could roll with an ultra-big, ultra-switchable starting lineup of White/Smart, Durant, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, and Robert Williams III; with Brogdon, Danilo Gallinari, and Payton Pritchard coming off the bench.