The Boston Celtics are one of several teams with a realistic shot at landing Kevin Durant in a trade this offseason — assuming the 33-year-old multi-time NBA Finals MVP doesn’t renege on his trade request to Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai in their meeting this week.
As has come to light in the last few weeks, Jaylen Brown is the reason why Boston’s perspective KD offer is more competitive than any other team in the league. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens offered Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and a draft pick for Durant but had their offer rebuffed by Sean Marks and co.
While Brown was upset at the news, tweeting out ‘SMH’ amidst the Durant trade talks, the Boston Herald’s Mark Murphy actually believes that his message was a sign that the 25-year-old wants to stay.
Regardless of whether he wants to stay or not, though, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey believes Brown is the top trade asset the Nets could acquire in a Durant deal, saying he is ‘the biggest prize in Brooklyn’s sights’:
"“Brown appears likely to be the biggest prize in Brooklyn’s sights. The 25-year-old is coming off a playoff run to the Finals in which he averaged 23.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 threes. He’s made an All-Star team and he just finished 2021-22 tied for 15th in defensive win shares (a number typically dominated by big men).”“If he heads to Brooklyn along with Smart, the Nets would almost certainly remain competitive. And supplementing those two with the draft picks Brooklyn would likely have to include would give them a chance to return to the playoffs before long.”"
The Boston Celtics should aim to land more than just Kevin Durant in a deal with the Brooklyn Nets
It’s clear that the line in the sand the Nets front office has drawn in Kevin Durant trade talks with the Boston Celtics is the inclusion of Marcus Smart. Giving up Smart and Jaylen Brown gives away 40% of a starting lineup that was 12 points/100 possessions better than second best team in that metric and defensive rating and was third in offensive rating (h/t Max Lederman), so it seems fair that the Cs counter Brooklyn by asking for another asset.
Seth Curry and his $8 million salary is something Celtics PBO Brad Stevens should consider in order to replenish guard depth. Joe Harris would be worth asking for, but alas, his salary is too high to be just a throw-in.