The Nets have acquired their greatest and most life like commerce provide within the Kevin Durant sweepstakes: A potential deal centered round Boston Celtics’ All-Star guard Jaylen Brown.
The Celtics have made a suggestion for Durant, who requested a commerce on June 30, that features Brown, a one-time All-Star heralded as one of many NBA’s premier two-way wings; sixth man Derrick White; and a draft decide, in response to The Athletic. The Nets rejected the Celtics’ provide and requested Boston to incorporate reigning Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, an extra rotation participant and draft compensation.
As it stands, Brown is one of the best particular person participant the Nets have been supplied in a deal for Durant. Other identified gives have included Mikal Bridges from the Phoenix Suns and OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors.
The Nets have been searching for the absolute best deal within the wake of Durant’s commerce request, and for good purpose: He is a franchise-altering expertise, a two-time NBA Finals MVP often known as probably the greatest scorers in NBA historical past. But after two current blockbuster trades — particularly the Hawks’ acquisition of Dejounte Murray that introduced Danilo Gallinari, three draft picks and a decide swap to the San Antonio Spurs; and the Rudy Gobert megadeal between the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves that despatched 4 rotation gamers, a 2022 first-round draft decide, 4 future first-round picks and a decide swap — no groups have been prepared to fulfill the Nets’ asking worth.
The Nets are asking for a number of All-Star caliber gamers, or an All-Star participant, rotation gamers and draft compensation. Forfeiting such property would primarily intestine a workforce buying and selling for Durant and doubtlessly take away them from championship rivalry after any deal is consummated.
Which is why the Celtics are conveniently positioned as a workforce able to each pulling a deal off and having the firepower to contend for a commerce within the aftermath of a deal. After sweeping the Nets out of the primary spherical and shedding to the Golden State Warriors within the NBA Finals, the Celtics improved their roster by buying and selling for Malcolm Brogdon and signing Gallinari as a free agent. Boston additionally owns all of its draft picks after 2023, which is simply Top-12 protected and can possible convey to the Pacers subsequent summer time.
It would behoove the Celtics, nevertheless, to search out methods to enhance their roster in the event that they hope to return to the NBA Finals. They swept a dysfunctional Nets workforce that lacked chemistry within the first spherical, defeated the Milwaukee Bucks with out Khris Middleton within the second spherical, then dealt with the Miami Heat within the Eastern Conference finals. The Heat made the convention finals by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers, who have been with out MVP candidate Joel Embiid for the primary two video games of that sequence.
Acquiring Durant is the closest factor to guaranteeing Boston returns to the largest stage, particularly given they’re unwilling to half with Jayson Tatum in any Durant deal. A Tatum and Durant pairing would simply develop into one of the best duo in basketball.
Only, after all, if Boston doesn’t intestine its roster to get him, which is the sticking level most groups have confronted in discussions with the Nets for a commerce with Durant. For Brooklyn, buying Brown and a wholesome Ben Simmons creates probably the greatest defensive units of wings in all of basketball. It stays unclear, nevertheless, what the remainder of the roster seems like within the aftermath of a Durant deal, or whether or not or not Kyrie Irving is a part of the image after opting into the ultimate 12 months of his contract value $37M.
The Celtics’ provide is the newest chapter in what’s been a weeks-long saga within the aftermath of Durant’s commerce request. Durant has 4 years value $198 million left on his deal, creating the phantasm that the Nets can wait him out, however the very last thing they need to need is a messy state of affairs dragging into coaching camp and the common season.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com