Report: Nets reject Celtics trade offer for KD involving Brown

Warriors

Report: Nets reject Celtics trade offer for KD involving Brown

The Kevin Durant sweepstakes reportedly have taken a new twist.

Late Sunday night, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported, citing sources, that the Boston Celtics — who the Warriors defeated in six games in the 2022 NBA Finals — have emerged as contenders to land Durant in a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets.

Per Wojnarowski, the Celtics will refuse to include Jayson Tatum in any trade talks. But Shams Charania of The Athletic reported further details of Boston’s offer that included Jaylen Brown.

“The Celtics offered Brown, guard Derrick White and a draft pick to the Nets for Durant, sources said. The proposal was rejected, and Brooklyn has asked Boston — in any proposal — to include Brown, Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, draft picks and potentially one more rotation player, those sources added,” Charania wrote. “Currently, the Celtics are less inclined to include Smart along with multiple other player or pick assets, but the franchise is mulling over next steps on how to approach discussions.”

Brown was the Celtics’ leading scorer in the 2022 Finals, averaging 23.5 points per game while grabbing 7.3 rebounds and dishing out 3.7 assists. He carried the heavy offensive load for Boston while Tatum struggled for much of the series to a 36.7 field-goal percentage.

On Monday morning, he tweeted three telling letters that could be in response to the trade rumors.

Boston potentially losing Brown and Smart in any Durant trade would be a massive loss for its defense, which finished the regular season with the best team defensive rating (106.2) in the NBA. 

But, again, it’s Kevin Durant — one of the best scorers and overall players the league has ever seen.

It appears the Celtics reportedly are among three of the top teams in pursuit of Durant along with the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat. The Phoenix Suns, originally listed as a favored landing spot for the superstar when he requested a trade from the Nets, reportedly are “all but eliminated” from trade talks after matching the Indiana Pacers’ $133 million offer sheet for Deandre Ayton, per Charania.

The Celtics are already one of the biggest threats to disrupt the Warriors’ pursuit of winning back-to-back titles next season. Boston improved this offseason by acquiring Malcolm Brogdon in a trade with the Indiana Pacers and signing Danilo Gallinari in free agency.

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Acquiring Durant, who would be joining the league’s runner-up just like he did when he arrived to Golden State in 2016, would surge the Celtics up to the status of NBA favorites.

The good news for the Warriors? Durant’s current team as well as the top-three contenders for a trade are all in the Eastern Conference.

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