Shipping up to Boston? Celtics reportedly eye Kevin Durant

About 25 days have passed since 12-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets. The 33-year-old has four years and nearly $200 million remaining on his contract, which means a team might have to dig deep in their pockets to get him. 

However, an outfit has bid for the four-time scoring champion. The Boston Celtics have emerged as strong contender to acquire Durant, as per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. 

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Durant has played 14 seasons, not including one year when he sat out while recovering from a torn Achilles. He has averaged 27.2 points in his career — over that span, only LeBron James, at 27.3 points per game, has averaged more. The Nets star has three Olympic golds and two NBA titles against his name. 

As per the ESPN report, the Celtics are “no closer” to acquiring Durant than other teams in discussions with the Nets. However, the deal could work out if the package is centered around All-Star forward Jaylen Brown. 

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Boston, a team that has adamant on not trading Jayson Tatum, could put in as many as three unprotected first round picks (2025, 2027 and 2029) and two pick swaps (2024 and 2026) for the Durant deal to work, as per Wojnarowski. 

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that the Celtics’s package reportedly includes Jaylen Brown, reserve guard Derrick White and a draft pick. However, the Nets refused and asked Boston to add point guard Marcus Smart, multiple picks and potentially one more rotation player.

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Brown has two years and $56 million left on his current contract with the Celtics.

Durant will turn 34 in September and he is still one of the best players in the game, his 6-foot-10 frame making his jump shot almost unstoppable by any defender.

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Durant spent three seasons with Brooklyn, not playing in the first of those years while he recovered from the Achilles injury. He averaged 29.9 points in 55 games last season, after leading the U.S. to Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games last summer.