Celtics ready to make a run at Kevin Durant, Al Horford

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics/2016/06/bulpett_celtics_ready_to_make_a_run_at_kevin_durant_al_horford



Bulpett: Celtics ready to make a run at Kevin Durant, Al Horford



Steve Bulpett


Thursday, June 30, 2016




Credit: Unknown
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) drives against Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea during the first half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series Thursday, April 21, 2016, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)


The Celtics spent much of Thursday mapping out a midnight strategy. They are planning to be on the phone at the stroke of July 1 as the NBA’s free agent negotiating period begins just after midnight.

According to sources, they have made arrangements to speak with representatives of Kevin Durant and Al Horford, if not the players themselves -- the preparations in this case being the acquisition of the proper telephone numbers, not any illegal early talks.

And it won’t just be members of the Celts’ basketball administration on the line speaking in harmony. A source close to the situation said that All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas will also be in the room to sing backup and take a solo turn as he and the team try to entice the prospects.

It’s at this time that the Celts will officially learn when they are getting an audience with Durant, though multiple reports have that meeting taking place Saturday on Long Island. Thomas has offered to be a member of the traveling party.

And all this is but the start of a whirlwind several days that will go a long way -- if not the entire distance -- toward defining the club’s roster for the 2016-17 season. Danny Ainge and company were said to be still deciding Thursday on whether to call other players and, if so, just who would be on that list.

Even without major moves, this is going to be a very interesting summer. If there is one thing that has been clear from talking to teams around the league who have spoken with them about deals and other matters in the last weeks, it is that the Celts are not satisfied with the roster that won them 48 games last season.

As it stands now, there is uncertainty over the return of unrestricted free agent Evan Turner, restricted free agents Jared Sullinger and Tyler Zeller and two players on whom the Celts hold a team option, Amir Johnson and Jonas Jerebko.

The C’s will add a big man, most likely through free agency, but also possibly in trade. Beyond offering Horford a large deal (one league executive is certain they are willing to give the 30-year center a maximum contract), the club will also explore what would be considered lesser options.

Horford fits Brad Stevens’ preferred style, hitting 55.7 percent on 2-point shots and adding 34.4 percent on treys. The fact he played all 82 regular season games last year and was in 76 the year before after coming back from a torn pectoral muscle has assuaged Celtics concerns about his durability.

Also adding fuel to the pursuit of Horford is the belief that Durant likes his game. Even if the latter chooses to remain with Oklahoma City on a one-year deal with an option, thus freeing him up for an even bigger free agent payday next summer, the presence of the big Hawk could make Boston more attractive. The Celts’ pitch to KD could, therefore, be more of a foundational exercise in hopes of making the score next year.

But contrary to speculation that the Celtics might try to acquire Horford in a sign-and-trade deal, the club is said to be only interested in him as a free agent. And the line of thinking that Horford would want a sign-and-trade to get a longer deal is moot. Teams can still sign their own players to deals as long as five years, while free agents can still get at most four years. But a change in league rules now states that a player being signed then shipped off can only be inked to a deal of three or four years in length.

And one of the reasons the C’s didn’t make a push for Horford at last February’s trade deadling is that they didn’t want to give up core assets -- the likes of which Atlanta would certainly want in return.

But if Horford cannot be secured as a free agent, expect the C’s to look into the likes of Cleveland’s Timofey Mozgov and Indiana’s Ian Mahinmi.

Because of this free agent uncertainty, sources close to Johnson and Jerebko are saying they’ve been advised that the decision on whether to pick up one or both of their options could well come down to the final hours.

Johnson is slated to make $12 million next season, and Jerebko is down for $5 million, but the Celts can opt out of those deals by serving notice by midnight Sunday (July 3rd).

The key for the C’s will be finding out as soon as possible whether they will be able to get deals with one or more of their targeted free agents, and also whether they will be able to retain Turner. If they are getting players who will be taking up a good portion Johnson and Jerebko’s minutes, it makes little sense to keep them here and take up the roster space of a younger player who might be able to be developed.

Also coming into play is the salary floor, expected to be some $84.6 million, that all teams must reach. If the Celts are running low, it may therefore be prudent to keep one or both for depth and as very good trade chips, in that they will be on the second and last year of their contracts.

As is evident, there are a lot of moving parts in this process, and they will come together very quickly over the next few days -- or not, if the top free agents don’t agree or the negotiations drag.


bob
MY NOTE:  The timing on Amir and Jonas' renewals makes for a VERY stressful week for Danny.  Not much slack in it.  I realize we'll all be disappointed if we don't sign someone big but just making Horford and KD's short lists make me smile because I remember where we were just 3 short years ago.  Three years into a minimum 5 year total rebuild and we're on the short list of the top free agents this off-season.  Not bad.

4 more hours and the phones start jumpin'...


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