After Kevin Durant reiterated his trade request with Nets proprietor Joseph Tsai this week, it was broadly thought-about that the Celtics have been KD’s almost certainly vacation spot and that the ball was in President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens’ court to make the subsequent transfer. Boston had Jaylen Brown, considered the perfect out there participant in the newest spherical of rumors, and a cache of function gamers and draft picks to place collectively a commerce bundle that will fulfill Brooklyn’s calls for.
However it takes two to tango.
According to The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, the 2 groups is likely to be farther aside — if not impossible — in making a blockbuster swap:
In accordance with the supply, Brooklyn initially tried to pry each Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown from Boston. That proposal went nowhere, after all. The supply confirmed current reviews that Brooklyn later shifted its focus to a possible deal centered on Brown, Marcus Good, and an enormous haul of future first-round draft picks. However the Celtics weren’t .
There may be often posturing in commerce discussions, and calls for have a tendency to melt. However as of this week, when Durant reportedly reiterated his need to be traded throughout a gathering with workforce proprietor Joe Tsai, the Celtics and Nets weren’t near a deal.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown?!? Posturing certainly. The important thing factors in Himmelsbach reporting is that 1) it was Nets GM Sean Marks, not Stevens, that floated the concept of Brown, Marcus Good, and picks and a couple of) with the Celtics balking at each provides, the groups are at a stalemate.
Himmelsbach additionally goes on to say that Boston’s mind belief of Stevens of head coach Ime Udoka have been in fixed contact with with Brown and that everyone understands that that is the enterprise of basketball.
And right here’s one other little wrinkle into the Durant saga from Sportsnet New York’s Ian Begley:
Durant sees Boston as a desired touchdown spot, per individuals aware of the matter. Durant additionally want to play with Boston’s Marcus Good if he’s traded to the Celtics, per individuals aware of the matter.
It’s the primary time we’ve heard of Durant’s curiosity within the Celtics and clearly, who doesn’t wish to play with Smarty, proper?
For now, KD-to-Boston appears lifeless, however with about six weeks earlier than coaching camp, something is feasible.
