NBA Rumors: Celtics, Draft, Jrue Holiday, Suns, Kevin Durant, Knicks

Celtics

The Celtics are conducting background work on several point guard prospects ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft and are among the teams exploring potential trade-up scenarios, according to a report from Grant Afseth of RG.org.

Boston currently holds the No. 28 and No. 32 overall picks, giving the franchise some flexibility to move up in the draft order should the front office target a specific player in the mid-to-late first round.

While the Celtics have not publicly tipped their hand, league sources say they’ve “quietly evaluated” multiple point guards in this year’s class, bringing in players for workouts and gathering intel.

The aim, per the report, is to add a rotation-level guard on a rookie-scale deal — a move that would bring both talent and much-needed cost control to a Celtics roster deep in luxury tax territory.

Boston finished this past season over the NBA’s second apron and is expected to make cost-conscious adjustments this summer. Drafting at No. 32 and signing that player to a minimum deal would help in that effort, though trading up by packaging No. 28 and future capital is also a possibility.

• Among the guards who may be available in Boston’s range: France’s Nolan Traore (No. 25 on ESPN’s big board), Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. (No. 27), and Israeli standout Ben Saraf (No. 30).
• Traore was projected as a lottery pick earlier this spring but has seen his stock slide. The top-tier point guards — including Dylan Harper, Jeremiah Fears, Kasparas Jakucionis and Egor Demin — are expected to go in the lottery and would likely be out of reach unless Boston makes a significant leap up the board.
• The Celtics are one of several teams with multiple selections in the late-first to early-second range and are reportedly active in trade discussions. The Thunder (Nos. 15, 24, 44), Magic (Nos. 16, 25, 46, 57), and Nets (Nos. 8, 19, 26, 27, 36) are also weighing their options, per Afseth.
• Veteran guard Jrue Holiday could be a trade chip this offseason, which adds another layer to Boston’s approach. Even if Holiday returns, adding depth behind him on a rookie deal fits both the team’s financial and competitive timelines.

Suns

The Suns and Kevin Durant’s business partner, Boardroom CEO Rich Kleiman, have met multiple times over the past week to explore trade possibilities, according to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania and as we wrote here.

Durant, 35, is drawing interest from several teams, most notably the Spurs, Rockets, Heat, Timberwolves and Knicks. Additional suitors have reportedly reached out in the past 7–10 days, with trade talks expected to intensify ahead of the NBA Draft on June 26.

Phoenix is believed to be motivated to get a deal in place before then. Not only would the Suns benefit from recouping draft capital, but matching Durant’s $54.7 million salary becomes more flexible as rosters shift during draft week.

The former MVP has one year remaining on his current contract and is eligible to sign a two-year extension worth up to $112 million on July 6 — or $124 million if he waits the required six months after a trade. That wrinkle could influence which teams pursue him most aggressively.

• Durant was nearly traded to Golden State before February’s deadline, a move that reportedly blindsided him. While that deal never materialized, the idea that Phoenix was already open to moving Durant at the time has fueled the belief that a split could be imminent, especially after the Suns missed the playoffs entirely this past season.
• It remains unclear whether Durant has a preferred destination, though sources have told Hoops Wire that the Spurs — and a potential pairing with Victor Wembanyama — hold some appeal. A deal involving San Antonio could hinge on the inclusion of top draft assets, a key for a Suns front office operating without many picks of its own.
• Durant appeared in 75 games this season, averaging 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists while shooting 52% from the field.

Knicks

Despite outside speculation and reports of mutual interest, the Mavericks remain firm in their stance that head coach Jason Kidd isn’t going anywhere, according to multiple reports.

The Mavericks have privately conveyed to “key stakeholders” that Kidd will return next season, per The Athletic’s Christian Clark and Sam Amick. That message comes amid buzz linking Kidd to the Knicks’ head coaching vacancy — buzz that began earlier this week when ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported there was “mutual intrigue” between the two sides.

But as of Wednesday, the Knicks had yet to request permission to speak with Kidd, according to Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News, citing two Mavericks officials who expressed skepticism that a request would even come.

• Kidd, 51, signed a contract extension last offseason after coaching the Mavericks to an NBA Finals appearance. If the Knicks were to pursue him formally, they would be required to compensate the Mavericks, likely with draft capital, a resource on which New York is light.
• According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, even if a request is made, Dallas is expected to deny it.
• The Knicks are conducting a wide search to replace former coach Tom Thibodeau, and several candidates — including J.B. Bickerstaff and Mike Budenholzer — have already been linked to the job. Kidd’s name, though high-profile, appears increasingly unlikely to materialize as a real option.