The Boston Celtics managed to get to the NBA Finals this year, and there's no doubt that they were a great defensive team. However, despite the fact that the Boston Celtics had a 2-1 lead after Game 3, they lost 3 games in a row and the Golden State Warriors ended up winning the series.
The Boston Celtics were missing consistent offense at times during the Finals, and perhaps they could address that via trade. The trade candidate that could solve that problem is Kevin Durant. While usually, a superstar like Kevin Durant wouldn't be traded, it is possible that he will be moved, as it was reported that Durant's future is currently in the air. Here is the hypothetical trade package.
Boston Celtics Receive: Kevin Durant
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Payton Pritchard, Grant Williams, 2024 First-Round Pick (BOS), 2026 First-Round Pick (BOS)
Boston Celtics Create The Best Duo In The League
Jayson Tatum and Kevin Durant are both widely accepted to be top-10 players in the league, especially after Jayson Tatum just led the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals, winning the first-ever Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP in the process. Generally, pairing two top-10 players is a recipe for success, and that is what the Boston Celtics would be doing with this trade.
There is no question that Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum would immediately become the best duo in the league. Versatile wing players are extremely important in terms of winning, and both Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum are in that category. Jayson Tatum is a great man defender, while Kevin Durant has some value as a rim protector at the PF position. There's no question that Kevin Durant is an offensive upgrade on Jaylen Brown as well, and his shot creation in the midrange area is generally considered the best in the league. Durant is also a capable playmaker, an area that he has improved upon in recent years.
If the Boston Celtics were to acquire Kevin Durant, they would lose a lot of their depth. However, they would still have some elite role players on the roster, such as Robert Williams, Al Horford, and Derrick White, to support Jayson Tatum and Kevin Durant in their bid for a championship. Williams notably showed that he is one of the best defensive centers in the league, and perhaps he could end up providing a star-level impact on the defensive end next season, and be the third-best player on the roster behind the two superstars.
Whenever there is an opportunity to acquire a superstar via trade for a contending team, it should be taken. Kevin Durant is one of the best players in the league, and he and Jayson Tatum would clearly be a duo that could win a championship. The trade would definitely be a risk, but the payoff could be immense.
Brooklyn Nets Get A Package That Includes A Young Star
It was reported that a trade package for Kevin Durant might be the largest one in NBA history, and this theoretical trade scenario reflects that fact. The Boston Celtics would be sending out two-way star Jaylen Brown as the headliner of this package, alongside solid defensive role players in Marcus Smart and Grant Williams, and some other assets for the future. This is an absolute haul for the Brooklyn Nets.
Jaylen Brown is quite obviously a fantastic player, and he had an insane Finals series, averaging 23.5 PPG, 7.3 RPG, and 3.7 APG against the Warriors. He is an elite two-way wing, and perhaps he and Ben Simmons could form the star duo of the future for the Brooklyn Nets. He could potentially be a go-to scorer on the Nets, and it'd be interesting to see how he would do as a No. 1 offensive option.
The rest of the package features Marcus Smart, Grant Williams, Payton Pritchard, and two first-round picks. Marcus Smart won the DPOY award for his perimeter defense, and he is still young enough to fit with a core that features Jaylen Brown and Ben Simmons. Grant Williams is a legitimate 5-position defender with 3PT shooting ability, and he would be a great young role player to have on the roster. Payton Pritchard is known for his shooting, and he shot 41.2% from the 3PT range this season. He struggled somewhat during the playoffs, but perhaps he could develop into a solid backup point guard with more playing time on the Brooklyn Nets. The draft picks would obviously be additional compensation to get the deal done.
Overall, this is a massive package for Kevin Durant, as is required by a player of his caliber. If Kevin Durant does indeed ask for a trade, this package could potentially set the Nets up for the present and the future.
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