Celtics the Frontrunner for Kevin Durant?

While it seems the Nets remain far from a Kevin Durant trade, we may have a leader in the clubhouse, so to speak.

Per Sam Amick of The Athletic, opposing executives appear to view the Celtics as the unofficial frontrunner in the so-called Durant sweepstakes.

As previously reported, the Celtics are making swingman Jaylen Brown the centerpiece of a proposed Durant deal — or perhaps the Nets are demanding Brown. Either way, a lot of people who both work in the NBA and merely just watch think Boston could put together the best package.

One thing we do seem to know is that Nets GM Sean Marks hasn’t really changed his approach after Durant reiterated his trade request in a meeting with team owner Joe Tsai (and called for Marks’ head in the process).

“Marks is still asking for the world; that won’t change,” Amick quoted an opposing front office executive as saying. “They could call his bluff and make him come to camp. I can’t see him sitting out.”

Other vital points in all this relayed by Amick:

1. The Nets are using Brown’s name in trade discussions as a baseline when talking with teams other than the Celtics.

2. The Nets are making it clear to others that they have no interest in a deal with another team unless that team’s second-best player is also involved. At least.

Other than that, it’s a whole lot of wait-and-see as Marks and the Nets remain hopeful that the Durant situation will be resolved by the start of training camp in late September.

“Ten days ago, Kevin Durant and Joe Tsai met in London. Durant really tried to apply the pressure by asking for Steve Nash and Sean Marks to get fired. And guess what has happened? Nothing. Nothing has happened,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on Get Up, via RealGM. “The dynamic around Kevin Durant hasn’t changed at all. There hasn’t been an urgency in trade talks. There hasn’t been a change in strategy by the Brooklyn Nets.”