Kevin Durant put all that free agency and off-season frenzy on hold. His desire to be traded away from the Brooklyn Nets has been the story of the summer, and nothing's likely to happen until he finds a new home.
Recently, the Boston Celtics have been named as a potential landing spot for the two-time Finals MVP, but there are big hurdles to get past before any deal gets done.
There's Nothing Imminent
According to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe, the Celtics could lead the race for K.D. given the plethora of assets they could potentially offer:
"A league source said there has not been any real traction on a deal that would send Kevin Durant from the Nets to the Celtics. It’s no surprise that the sides have had some discussions, of course," Himmelsbach reported. "Boston has been considered a potential landing spot in large part because the Celtics are better positioned than most to offer an enticing package. But there are limits."Nets Overplayed Their Hand
The Nets may have crossed those limits when they asked for both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in any package for Durant. Needless to say, Brad Stevens declined:
"According to the source, Brooklyn initially tried to pry both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown from Boston. That proposal went nowhere, of course. The source confirmed recent reports that Brooklyn later shifted its focus to a deal centered on Brown, Marcus Smart, and a massive haul of future first-round draft picks. But the Celtics were not interested," Himmelsbach added.K.D. Wants To Play With Marcus Smart
But K.D. is still determined to get his way and move to Boston, per SNY's Ian Begley. Apparently, he's keen on teaming up with Marcus Smart. That's complicated, as he'd likely have to be included in any potential trade package:
"Durant sees Boston as a desired landing spot, per people familiar with the matter," Begley wrote. "Durant also would like to play with Boston’s Marcus Smart if he is traded to the Celtics, per people familiar with the matter."Ime Udoka Could Be A Factor
The Celtics would also be an appealing destination for Durant because of his close relationship with Ime Udoka, per the report:
"If Durant is traded to Boston, it would reunite him with Celtics head coach Ime Udoka," Begley added. "Durant and Udoka have a strong relationship from their days together with USA Basketball and in Brooklyn. Udoka was an assistant coach under Nash."But then again, trading away integral parts of a young core that's fresh off a trip to the NBA Finals may not be the wisest move.
]]>The Inquisitr
