Durant seems to have list of 6 teams he will interview with in NYC

Well, at least we made the first cut. Danny still has to make it rain with a trade or free agency signing to make it to the 2nd round.


bob


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Hi,
If it's not a dog-n-pony show, Celtics have a good chance.
The most probable teams is, of course, GSW. There KD gets 3 high fly players: Splash brothers and DG. On the minus side he's not going to be "da man" there.
Then, I'd put LAC. KD will also get 3 stars there.
Among 4 remaining teams Celtics have the best chance, IMO.

AK

arambone wrote:Remember the day after OKC got eliminated, and Durant's agent gave Boston a list of the players Boston should sign if it wanted to have a chance with Durant?

If Boston is the only team among the Final 6 that can actually sign another max guy in addition to Durant, that could give Boston an edge.

Like, if Durant wanted to play with Al Horford (I don't know who was on that list), then only Boston could make it happen.

Boston MIGHT have a real inside track here, if there's a top free agent that Durant wants to play with. This scenario would also allow Durant to feel like he played a major role in shaping the team around him, kind of like how LeBron basically traded Wiggins for Kevin Love.

arambone,

That's all true but there could be a hitch and that is Kevin Durant is the linchpin.  Just as everybody waited until after LeBron decided where he was going to sign (both times) there will be players waiting to see where KD signs.  Danny needs a commitment from Horford (or whomever) BEFORE he meets with Durant and that might be tough to get since they will be waiting on Durant.  We might have a timing issue.  A way around that might be as simple as asking Hassan Whiteside "if you don't want to sign with us without Kevin Durant, would you change your mind and sign with us if we get Kevin Durant?"  If the answer is "yes", then tell KD that and let him call the player and confirm that for himself.

I have friends who are Laker fans and the Laker twittersphere is running wild with rumors about LeBron and KD, and Westbrook the year after this.  I have no idea where Durant will end up, my gut says he's staying in OKC, but I think it says something about how far we've come and the respect we are garnering from the top free agent available that we are on the short list of teams he will even meet with.  

And who are our competitors?  GSW.  QUITE a formidable team, no back-to-back championships notwithstanding.  San Antonio.  Probably the class of the league, with the #1 coach in the league.  Miami.  I don't see that happening, personally.  DWade is 34 years old.  Bosh has serious recurring health issues (and is 32 years old).  They are struggling to find the money to keep Whiteside.  How are they going to afford Whiteside and Durant?  We, on the other hand, can afford both of them.  The Clippers.  Another very good team, but their projected salary next year is $78M.  How would they add a max contract worth of Durant salary and stay anywhere near the $94M cap?  Durant, with 9 years experience, has a max contract of $25.9M (Unless the way it's calculated is what his upcoming contract year would be, then he would have 10 years experience and the max is $30.2M).  And OKC.  Durant could stay in OKC for one more year, until he gets that 10th year of experience and then go for the long term deal.  Of course, everybody else could offer that too, offer him the $25.9M max on a 1-year deal and then re-sign him next year @ $30.9M for the longterm.

Let's be honest here.  Did any of us really think 3 years ago, after we traded away Pierce and KG and brought in a college coach for a major rebuild effort, that's we'd good enough to be one of only 6 teams to get on the short list of the #1 free agent? We've come a long way, baby.


bob


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http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4723407/pitch-perfect-celtics-could-make-strong-case-to-kevin-durant



Pitch perfect: Celtics could make strong case to Kevin Durant



7:50 AM PT



Chris Forsberg
ESPN Staff Writer



If Boston Celtics fans were disappointed with the lack of a big-splash trade on draft night, it was maybe for this reason only: By not adding more established NBA talent, the Celtics seemingly failed to bolster their recruiting pitch for potential free agents looking for a surefire championship contender.

But make no mistake, there's no shortage of positives surrounding this Celtics team. And part of the reason that Boston was hesitant to make a move on draft night was to maintain the sort of financial flexibility that would allow the team to make the strongest pitch possible to free agents like Kevin Durant.

ESPN's Marc Stein reported Saturday that the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, and incumbent Oklahoma City Thunder would be the first three teams to meet with Durant when free agency opens on July 1. The Vertical reported that Durant's reps were working to solidify invitations from other teams, including the Celtics.

Boston president of basketball operations Danny Ainge wouldn't take the bait when asked about free agency on Friday. Ainge said he couldn't talk specifics, but pressed on what his team needs, Ainge said, "Good players. We need help. We need some good players. And we have a lot of really good players. But, yeah, some more good players."

Durant is the obvious prize of an otherwise underwhelming 2016 free-agent class. The Celtics might not necessarily be the sort of obvious title contender that teams like the Warriors, Spurs, and Thunder are at the moment, but adding Durant would definitely move Boston neck-and-neck with the champion Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference.

Boston's sales pitch to Durant could include:


The Celtics might not be the favorite to add Kevin Durant, but they have the assets to be an enticing option for this offseason's top free-agent target. AP Photo/Michael Dwyer


• Up-and-coming team: With 39-year-old Brad Stevens and his new long-term deal at the controls, these Celtics won 48 games and competed for a top spot in the East last season. Isaiah Thomas elevated to All-Star status, and Boston thrived behind an affordable and intriguing young core that includes the likes of Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, and Marcus Smart. Players like Thomas remain adamant that Boston is just one player away from being a legitimate contender.

• Cap space: The Celtics have a nine-man core signed to less than $34 million in guaranteed salary for next season. Thanks to draft-and-stash possibilities, Boston is unlikely to dent too much salary despite making six picks in Thursday's draft, and that leaves Boston with enough cap space to pursue two max-contract free agents this summer. The biggest part of Boston's pitch would be: Pick a friend to join you here. If Durant wants to play with fellow free agent Al Horford, the Celtics can sign both (and still have enough cash left to fill out their roster with the sort of capable role players that every title contender needs). If Durant prefers a star already on another roster, the Celtics have the assets to try to pry that player free.

• Sustainability: Some of the surefire title contenders might be able to create enough room to add Durant this summer, but their ability to continue adding talent -- or simply keep their stars -- further down the road would be compromised by their salary bloat. The Celtics have positioned themselves for long-term flexibility. And that's further aided by Boston's ridiculous draft-pick treasure chest. The Celtics can pitch Durant that, not only would Boston be an immediate title contender with him, but that they might also have the No. 1 pick in each of the next two drafts (if the Brooklyn Nets are slow to rebuild). There will be a steady influx of talent -- or at least tradable assets -- to ensure Boston remains competitive throughout the length of Durant's next contract.


• The tradition: Durant already gushed about the Celtics' tradition when the Thunder played here in March. Bringing banner No. 18 to Boston would cement his legacy as a player and make him a legend in these parts. If the Celtics were smart, they'd get other area sports stars like Tom Brady and David Ortiz to relay what it's like to have this city in the palm of your hand. If nothing else, he's got all those free crab legs promised by Legal Sea Foods.

Is that enough to compete with the likes of the Spurs or Warriors? That depends on what makes Durant tick. But Thomas, who has raved about playing in Boston, is adamant that the Celtics have a real chance to land Durant.

"We definitely have a shot [at recruiting Durant]. I know that for sure," Thomas said earlier this week on Sirius XM NBA radio. "And I’m just trying to reach out when I can and stay in his ear a little bit here and there. I know it’s a tough time for him because everybody’s probably trying to reach out and get him to go where they want him to go. But my relationship with him is real genuine, and hopefully I can get him to come to Boston and we can bring banner 18 here."

Truth be told, just getting a meeting with Durant would be a win for the Celtics. That would be the surest sign yet that star players are taking notice of what's happening in Boston. And even if Durant ultimately elects to stay in Oklahoma City or pursue a different challenge elsewhere, then other star players might think, "If Kevin Durant is considering Boston, maybe I should, too."


bob
MY NOTE:  I'm still sticking with my original thought that he's staying in OKC, at least for one more year, but Forsberg makes a good point I think.  Just making this short list is a statement from the top free agent this year that we have arrived.  I like that GSW, Spurs and OKC are going first.  That gives Danny more time to make it rain with a blockbuster trade or other super free agent.


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worcester wrote:Another wasted trip. Maybe he's accumulating Frequent Flyer miles. Does he want to play backup to Kristin Porzingis? Share the ball with Melo? Downgrade from Westbrook to Rose? Or could it be that since he'll be in NYC anyways for an Olympics meeting,  he might as well stop by the Knicks office to drive the NYC fans crazy?

worcester,

He's interviewing every team in NY, so he's already there. He's friends with DRose and Melo, who are begging him for a shot. The Knicks salary is $55M and that's only for 5 players. If they give Durant $27M, that takes them up to $83M, the cap is $94M and then they would have 6 players under contract. That leaves them $11M to sign 8 players.


bob


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cowens/oldschool wrote:I even included KO to make you all happy.

Cow,

I'll bet that hurt.


bob

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