Rumor: Robert Williams not available in potential Kevin Durant trade

After yesterday’s report from The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach revealed a number of the Celtics parameters for a doable deal for the Nets’ Kevin Durant that included not buying and selling for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and balking at a bundle of Brown, Marcus Sensible, and picks, NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin has one other dealbreaker:

There’s good cause for pessimism (on a possible KD commerce). Durant’s ultimatum to Nets owner Joe Tsai didn’t mild a fireplace underneath commerce talks. If something, it made it far much less possible a deal will get accomplished within the brief time period. — why would Boston enhance its provide now? It robbed the Nets of leverage. For instance, Brooklyn was making an attempt to get Boston to place Sensible within the commerce, however why would they even take into account it now?

That mentioned, even with out Sensible (or Robert Williams III, sources instructed NBC Sports activities he’s not out there), a Celtics provide with Jaylen Brown could also be the very best one the Nets will see.

We’ve but to see the Time Lord’s identify in any rumored commerce bundle and now, it appears to be like like he’s unavailable. The 2022 2nd Staff All-Protection heart begins the primary 12 months of a team-friendly four-year, $48 million contract subsequent season, an absolute hometown discount for Boston and was a key part to the league’s finest protection final 12 months. Any hesitation to incorporate him in a deal — even when it’s for one of many biggest gamers of this technology — appears affordable.