What would a Kevin Durant trade look like for the Boston Celtics?

Everybody wants to talk about Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving potentially joining the New York Knicks, but what if they teamed up on the Boston Celtics?

Remember when Boston Celtics fans were dreaming of Kevin Durant signing with the team, joining Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford to create the best Celtics team since the Big Three era?

He would wear Reggie Lews’ No. 35 and right the wrong the basketball gods unleashed on the Celtics in 2007 by giving them the fifth overall pick when Boston held the second best odds at the top selection.

When Durant eventually signed with the Golden State Warriors, those dreams basically went out the window. The Celtics rebounded quite impressively by signing Gordon Hayward and acquiring Kyrie Irving the next summer, but Durant has felt like the one who got away.

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Celtics fans may be able to start dreaming again. With Durant’s future in Golden State in doubt, a lot have speculated he will eventually sign with the New York Knicks as the main superstar on a big market team. Of course, Knicks fans have taken it a step further by claiming Irving will follow Durant to form their own super team in the Big Apple.

It seems a bit far fetched since Irving has already declared he would re-sign with the Celtics this summer. I know what you’re going to say. “Ask me July 1.” If you pay attention to the context of that statement, Irving was frustrated how leaks from Anthony Davis’ camp were driving the narrative around his free agency. He already made his commitment, so he was annoyed at people asking him again.

Anyway, while Durant going to New York is very much a possibility, what if he truly wants to play with Irving? Instead of hoping to build a contender in New York under the infamous James Dolan, he could attempt to facilitate a move to Boston. Let’s break down what that would look like for Durant, the Celtics and Warriors.

OAKLAND, CA – FEBRUARY 10: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on February 10 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Sign and trade

Durant has a player option for next season, meaning he can opt out and become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, or opt in for one more year with the Warriors at a $31,500,000 salary. The Celtics wouldn’t be able to sign him as a free agent due to the fact they are over the salary cap, so the only way for them to acquire him would be by a sign and trade.

In this setting, Durant would have to opt into the final year of his contract and have the Warriors send him to the Celtics. If the Warriors decline his request, he can opt out and sign somewhere else. This would be a similar case to the Chris Paul trade two summers ago. Paul told the Clippers to trade him to the Rockets, and when the deal was agreed to, he opted in so it could be executed.

For the Celtics to acquire Durant in a trade, they are allowed to acquire a minimum of 125 percent plus $100,000 of what they send out in salary. Durant will make $31,500,000 next season, so the minimum the Celtics would have to send out is $25,200,000. The same rule goes for the Warriors since both teams are over the salary cap.

Potential deals

For one, we don’t know for certain if Golden State would want to send the second best player in the world to one of their main challengers for the championship. However, letting Durant walk for nothing is an incentive to trade him, so we’ll see if that’s something general manager Bob Myers considers.

Trade 1:

Warriors receive: Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams, 2020 MEM first round pick, 2020 Celtics first round pick

Celtics receive: Kevin Durant, Damian Jones

In a situation where Durant is explicitly requesting a trade to the Celtics or walking in free agency, it’d be difficult for Danny Ainge to justify including Jayson Tatum in a trade. Golden State adds Hayward and Brown to soften the blow on the perimeter as well as a talented young big man and two first round picks.

Trade 2:

Warriors receive: Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Terry Rozier, 2020 MEM first round pick, 2020 Celtics first round pick

Celtics receive: Kevin Durant

Rozier would have to sign his qualifying offer in this scenario, which could be an issue if he wants the opportunity to explore restricted free agency for a chance to start. Say he does, and the Celtics would send three of their best young assets to the Warriors for a shorter window with Durant. The luxury tax payment with Durant, Irving, Horford and Hayward on the cap sheet would be a doozy, though.

Trade 3:

Warriors receive: Gordon Hayward, Jayson Tatum, 2020 Celtics first round pick

Celtics receive: Kevin Durant, Jacob Evans

Here’s your scenario that includes the Celtics sending their prized asset to the Warriors for Durant. It would be a hard pill to swallow for Celtics fans, but it’s something Ainge might have to consider with the potential of an Irving-Durant duo playing with Horford, Smart and Brown.

Next. Should the Celtics give up Tatum for Anthony Davis?. dark

Granted, I think this is an avenue the Celtics explore if the trade talks with the Pelicans about Davis don’t work out. Yes, Irving and Durant are good friends, but the on-court fit of Davis and Irving meshes far better than with Durant. Also, Davis (25) is younger than Durant (30) and could potentially play alongside Irving in both of their primes for much longer. Still, it’s not a bad thing for the Celtics to have two top-five players as realistic additions come this summer.

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