Analyst feels that as more time passes, the likelier it is Kevin Durant remains with Nets

The Boston Celtics could be losing ground in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes as times continue to push on without a deal in place. In fact, every team in the NBA with eyes on Durant could be in the same boat.

CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn said that ‘the longer this drags on, the likelier it feels that Durant and (Kyrie) Irving will at least begin training camp on the Nets.’ Quinn added that ‘a trade could come then.’

Regarding Durant’s initial trade request in June, Quinn said that ‘the Nets have held out hope throughout this process that Durant would eventually retract his trade request, but as of this time, there is no evidence suggesting that he has done so.’

Ipso facto, a Durant trade is not off the table, but it’s looking like a complicated process that won’t come to a conclusion any time soon.

The Boston Celtics are unlikely to break up their core after the start of training camp if no Kevin Durant trade happens

If the Cs make it to training camp intact, it’d be very unlikely that Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens would make any major shakeups. Following an NBA Finals appearance, Boston is the top title favorite in the Eastern Conference. Getting to the late stages of the offseason and breaking the bunch up doesn’t sound consistent with how Stevens operates.

With all of that said, coming away from this offseason without Durant would be far from a failure. The Cs arguably won the offseason when they nabbed Malcolm Brogdon for Daniel Theis, Aaron Nesmith, Nik Stauskas, Malik Fitts, Juwan Morgan and a 2023 first-round pick. The same day, they inked Danilo Gallinari to a deal less than what the Chicago Bulls were offering to truly clinch this offseason’s success.

Kevin Durant or no Kevin Durant, the Boston Celtics are the team to beat in the east, and a late training camp shake up doesn’t sound like the best way to get the defending Eastern Conference champions over the top.