The Boston Celtics shockingly emerged as a realistic destination for Kevin Durant. Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns, and Miami Heat were also interested in the former MVP, yet the Celtics made the most impressive offer thus far.
Brad Stevens surprised the NBA community by making a trade package centered around Jaylen Brown. And even though it wasnāt enough to convince the Brooklyn Nets to trade Durant, it proved that heās available in any further negotiation.
Needless to say, that has prompted mixed takes all over the internet. Thatās why Jayson Tatum, who teamed up with KD in the Olympics, had to clear the air and affirmthat those decisions were above his pay rate.
NBA News: Jayson Tatum Says He Doesnāt Get A Say In Any KD Trade
āI donāt make anything of it. I just play basketball,ā Tatum said, per ClutchPoints.āI played with (Durant) in the Olympics, heās a great player. But thatās not my decision. I love our team, I love the guys that we got.I donāt believe everything I see on TV. I seen some sh*t about me that was a lie, so you never really know what is/isnāt true.ā
Brian Scalabrine Advises The Celtics Not To Trade For Durant
Former Celtics player Brian Scalabrine isnāt so hyped about the prospect of KD arriving in TD Garden. Per the Red Mamba, Durant isnāt getting any younger andeven thoughall players age differently, not many NBA players have thrived in their late 30s:
āMy only concern with Kevin Durant is I have no idea how long 7-foot, long, lanky, super highly-skilled is gonna last,ā Scalabrine said.āI have no reference point. The Lakers traded for Anthony Davis and won a bubble championship, but thereās no guarantee that he will go back to being in his prime. Everybody ages differently.ā
āā¦ I donāt know how Kevin Durant ages,ā Scalabrine added. āIf he ages gracefully, the Celtics should do that trade. But if he falls off a cliff somewhere down the road, itāll be tough because youāre giving up a young, hungry, hardworking, first-in-the-gym kinda guy for someone like KD, I donāt know how much longer he has left.ā
At the end of the day, the Celtics will have to decide whether they want to win a championship now or remain a contender for years to come. As for Brown, that only shows how cold and ruthless this business can be.
