The Boston Celtics (MY Boston Celtics) are heavily in the race for Kevin Durant.
KD has made it clear he wants out of Brooklyn. That much is clear. But where does he end up?
Originally, it looked as though Miami and Phoenix were in the lead for KD. While Miami is still in the running, the C's seem to be the frontrunner.
As it currently stands, Boston has unofficially offered: Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and a 1st round pick
Nets want in addition: Marcus Smart, another rotation player, and an additional pick
Jaylen Brown has not been pleased with the rumors, nor have I. JB tweeted out "Smh" upon rumors of a KD for JB swap.
With all this being said, the Celtics SHOULD NOT trade for KD. Boston's biggest weakness in 2022 was their lack of a legitimate backup point guard to run the offense. Marcus Smart did a great job this past year of leading the C's to the finals. However, he is not a natural point guard. He was the best playmaker on the team and deserves every bit of credit for his growth at the point. Boston has since added Malcolm Brogdon in a trade with Indiana while giving up seemingly nothing. On top of this, they added Gallinari from Atlanta for size and outside shooting. This team has made the moves necessary to put them in prime position to make and win the finals in 2023.
Instead....
The Celtics have considered the KD gamble. And while, yes, Durant is a top talent, he was outplayed by Tatum and Brown in the first round sweep of the Nets. Celtics need to stand firm and keep the chemistry dynamic that has already been proven to work. There is no gaurentee that Tatum and KD will work well together. JB is young, talented and shows up in gritty situations.
KD for JB wouldn't be a mistake due to the talent in return, but it is an unnecessary move for a team who has improved since making the finals just a few months ago.
Loyalty > Royalty