The Boston Celtics won a ticket to the Kevin Durant draw. Later, Athletic's Shams Charania reported that Boston had in fact sent Brooklyn a commercial offer to Durant, but the Nets declined and objected.
Here's the details of the Celtics' initial offer - which includes winger Jaylen Brown - and the Nets counter, according to Charania:
Tomase: Why blowing him to land Durant is the wrong path for the Cs
"The Celtics have offered Brown, keeper Derrick White and a Nets draft pick for Durant, sources said. The offer was turned down and Brooklyn has asked Boston - in any offer. - brought in Brown defensive player of the year Marcus Smart, draft picks and potentially another rotation these sources added. "
Boston seems ready to include Brown in the Durant deal. is remarkable. Brown and Jayson Tatum helped lead the Celtics to the NBA Finals last season as one of the best young duos in the league, but Brown's talent, age (25) and contract situation (signed until 2023) -24) makes him a valuable commercial chip that could make Team C one of the greatest players in NBA history.
While the Celtics are "less inclined" to include Smart alongside Brown in the Durant trade, Charania reports the Celtics "have emerged as a serious possibility" as a Durant landing point and have "significant interests" to get 12 times All-Star.
It's worth considering the sources of these reports, as they could be emanating from Durant's camp or the Nets in a ploy to gain leverage. But for now, it appears Boston is very much in the hunt for Durant this offseason.
