Nets View Celtics’ Jaylen Brown As ‘Viable’ Option In Kevin Durant Trade

While the Nets have spoken to a multitude of teams on the Kevin Durant trade front, the Celtics are viewed as the frontrunners at the moment, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The reason? Because no one else is offering a player like Jaylen Brown, who the Celtics are reportedly willing to part with in exchange for Durant.

Boston could offer a package centered on Brown and multiple draft picks, and according to reports last month, have already done so. They even threw in guard Derrick White for good measure.

The Nets rejected the offer, per Charania.

But with Durant reiterating his trade request in a meeting with Nets owner Joe Tsai, per Charania, perhaps Brooklyn will finally start to become more reasonable in its asking price. At least, that seems to be the theory for other teams.

Durant gave Tsai an ultimatum — indicating he does not want to return if coach Steve Nash and GM Sean Marks are back, per Charania.

Prior to the meeting, Brooklyn had spoken to every team in the NBA about a Durant trade. But it appears some have a better shot at landing him than others.

In other words, Boston is not alone in its pursuit of Durant — but it’s hard to envision someone else making a similar offer, with a younger All-Star such as Brown as the centerpiece to a deal.

Durant first requested a trade shortly before the free agency period tipped off on the final day of June. He made the request shortly after Kyrie Irving made it known that he was opting in to his contract to return to Brooklyn for another year.

Brown, by the way, seemed to respond to reports that he was being mentioned as the possible prize in a Durant trade.

“Smh,” Brown tweeted, indicating he’s not happy with the news.

And at this point, the Celtics may have no choice but to move Brown — whether it’s for Durant or not.

Either way, it is believed the Celtics and Nets will continue to try to work out a deal.

After all, the Celtics could have the type of massive package the Nets are seeking. Along with Brown, they could include “as many as three unprotected first-round picks (2025, 2027 and 2029) — and two pick swaps (2024 and 2026)” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski wrote.