The Kevin Durant trade saga continues to be the most intriguing topic of discussion in the NBA offseason right now. While it has already been 4 weeks, despite interest from teams, there haven’t been many developments in KD’s potential trades.
But the last three days have added some much needed developments in the KD trade saga. With the Boston Celtics reportedly interested in Durant, many people have been coming up with their own trade packages suitable for the move.
While it is clear that Jayson Tatum is off limits for the Celtics, it seems like no other player is safe from being included in a potential trade package. In a recent episode of ‘First Things First’ analyst Chris Broussard claimed that the Nets should demand Jaylen Brown along with Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, and 3 first-round picks for a potential Durant trade.
Where in the world is Kevin Durant going?
"We see teams dropping out every day! Phoenix is out. Miami is out. Toronto is out. What's the deal to be made? The likeliest scenario is that KD starts the season in Brooklyn." — @Chris_Broussard pic.twitter.com/EiFlPAuL7r
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) July 28, 2022
“If they wanna give up Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and if I’m the Nets, I’m demanding Robert Williams III as well and three first-round picks… If they wanna give up some type of deal like that, then maybe it happens.”
While Brown’s name has been under consideration, the Nets clearly want some more quality players, and including a player like Marcus Smart along with a couple of first-round picks might do the trick. But the biggest challenge for the Celtics will be whether they will be as defensively solid without Smart.
Apart from Smart, Robert Williams III has also grown into becoming a crucial player in Celtics’ rotation. Starting off as a rotational piece, William III has made a name for himself as a ferocious shot blocker and is a great defensive presence as well. While adding Durant will elevate the team offensively, they might be losing two of their defensive stalwarts in the trade.
It was defense that propelled the Celtics to the NBA Finals last season. As far as the Nets are concerned, they will still be ready to challenge for the title. This trade between the Celtics and the Nets looks lopsided, and giving up 3 starters, and 3 first-round picks might not be worth it.
