Report: Durant gave Celtics list of players they need to sign

Report: Durant gave Celtics list of players they need to sign

Larry Brown Sports

By Steve DelVecchio

Kevin Durant's agent reportedly gave the Celtics a list of players the team needs to sign to lure him there. Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images
There are probably about 25 NBA teams that have interest in signing Kevin Durant, but only a handful of them have a realistic shot. Are the Boston Celtics among them?

In an interview with WEEI on Monday, Butch Stearns of FOX 25 in Boston cited a source who claims Durant’s agent has given the Celtics a list of players they would need to sign in order to have a shot at landing K.D.

“I have this on pretty good authority: The Celtics have sat with his agent and other representatives of Durant,” Stearns said. “The Celtics do know — I don’t know who it is — but they do know who he would prefer to be brought here in a LeBron [James]-Chris Bosh-Dwyane Wade-like way. Because that’s how it works in the NBA. You need to know who the guy or guys that that guy wants, which would be a factor.

“Now, I don’t know if Durant’s told them that. But the Celtics know. They know. They’ve been told what group of guys he would want to come here.”

It would stand to reason that Durant’s representatives have told all interested teams something similar. If Durant ends up leaving Oklahoma City, he won’t be looking to join a team that is years away from playoff contention.

We have already heard reports that teams like the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs are interested in signing Durant. Can the Celtics compete with those Western Conference powerhouses? As Stearns noted, the advantage they might have is that the East is weaker, and Durant would only have to — in theory — get through LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to make the Finals.

Like many teams, the Celtics are a long shot. That didn’t stop Isaiah Thomas from sending this tweet on Monday night, and it won’t stop Danny Ainge from trying to meet Durant’s demands if he has a chance to sign the top prize of the summer.

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Word out of Miami indicates that Pat wants to keep Whiteside and are hoping he is willing to resign at a hometown discount rate.  And they want either Durant or Lebron.  It is very unlikely that Lebron would leave Cleveland again.  

Do you think Durant would consider going there on a one year contract just to see how things work out?  Consider he would be going to Wade's team, an aging star and the Bosh health question is uncertain.

I think we can eliminate the Heat as a possible destination for Durant.

It has also been mentioned that Golden State could be a possible landing spot.  How would Durant feel about sharing?  GS is not in need of a high shot volume player like Durant and he could become a 3rd or 4th scoring option on a lot of possessions.

I think we can eliminate GS as a possible landing spot for Durant unless GS moved one of their big 3 (Green???)  That may not be a bad idea because they could also resign Barnes.

How about the lakers?  They have tons of cap space?  However they are in a full blown rebuilding project and Durant is not likely to sign with any team that is not ready for contention next year.

Washington has also been mentioned as a possible landing spot.  They have some pretty good young talent.  I am sure that Durant would love to play with a PG that will pass him the rock and Wall is a double digit assist guy plus Beal is a pretty good SG.  They also have a very serviceable center in Gortat.  They have enough cap space to add Durant and another max contract player.  However they do not have any draft picks this year and the roster would still need multiple players to enhance their depth.

They are not ready to contend yet.  He is not going home to Washington.

Boston is a possible landing spot because they are already 75% rebuilt they have both cap space to add Durant and another max players and they have tons and tons of draft picks that will provide an influx of more talent over the next 3 years.  Durant could come to Boston and be the guy.

However, if there really is a list and even if DA can meet his demands the big question is a matter of fit.  Just because Durant wants to play with this guy or that guy does not mean that it is a good fit for the Celtics.

Conclusion.  Durant choked in the playoffs.  Each year it is less likely that he will win a championship.  He probably would not want to sign with Boston because Boston's style does not rely on isolation basketball.  

dboss