Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant will not be joining the Boston Celtics or any other ball club anytime soon. The former MVP and his Nets announced the two parties have agreed to move forward, and Durant will no longer pursue a trade away from the team. This ends weeks of speculation, with the Celtics firmly in the mix of seemingly each new rumor or report.
According to the Athletic’s Shams Charania, Boston had floated a package of Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and a few first-round picks in early July, though subsequent reporting stated these talks never made serious progress.
Still, Boston remained in the broader conversation despite limited momentum, as did clubs like the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat.
NBA, Boston Celtics Twitter react to the end of the Kevin Durant trade saga https://t.co/mO0xsHSyUd
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 23, 2022
In a Monday appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show,” Charania explained why Durant and Brooklyn decided to forgo a trade and instead commit to mending the fences between the two parties. According to Charania, the Nets had “a crazy asking price” and “no one that was stepping up.”
In fact, Charania said teams believed Brooklyn wasn’t being serious about its own pursuit of a deal unless a team was willing to make a massive offer.
Rapid reaction to the news that Kevin Durant rescinded his trade request https://t.co/yO0a0wRDqp
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 23, 2022
This would, Charania stated, include at least an All-Star player, a rotation player, and a ton of draft capital. For now, it appears both Durant and the Nets believe this is the best path forward, especially with whispers of a training camp holdout on the horizon.
With Kyrie Irving also seemingly set to return to Brooklyn, the Nets front office may have weathered the storm.
At least in the eyes of one Bleacher Report analyst, this trio could have a big season ahead of them. https://t.co/wrJLk0uMX0
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 23, 2022
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