Stephen A. Smith: Kevin Durant Could Be Traded by Nets; Celtics' Jaylen Brown Linked

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown might be shaking his head once again.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith reported Monday on First Take that the Celtics could once again launch a pursuit of Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant. Per Smith, Brown could be part of Boston's outgoing package.

Kyrie Irving's reported trade to the Dallas Mavericks has renewed questions over Durant's long-term future in Brooklyn. The vultures are already starting to circle, with Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes reporting the Phoenix Suns are ready to pounce if the 13-time All-Star is made available.

The Celtics could be the ideal trading partner for the Nets because it might be tough to get a player better than Brown. The 26-year-old is averaging 27.0 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists and earned his second trip to the NBA All-Star Game.

Brooklyn could choose to orient its future around Brown, who's in his prime, to continue contending or tread water for a bit before flipping him as part of a wider rebuild.

The Celtics' appetite to make this trade remains unclear, though.

As great as Durant is, his addition would require a major adjustment for a team that's already sitting first in the Eastern Conference and a top title contender. Boston is the championship favorite (+300) at FanDuel.

And with Durant still nursing a sprained MCL, the Celtics would have even less time to help him and Jayson Tatum forge a strong connection on the court before the postseason.

If Boston's front office doesn't believe a Durant trade and all of its corresponding implications will be worth it, then it would behoove the team to nip the idea in the bud as soon as possible.

Last July, Bleacher Report's A. Sherrod Blakely laid out how the Celtics might be leaving Brown feeling alienated by letting him be the subject of trade speculation seemingly every year.

"Even if the Celtics had made a cursory call—which NBA teams do all the time when a top-flight player like Durant becomes available—league insiders believe this flirtation with Durant could easily come back to bite them," Blakely wrote.

Brown is eligible for free agency in 2024. Assuming he's still on Boston's roster by then, he could choose to give the Celtics the cold shoulder and sign with another team as payback.

---

For all the latest betting information and reaction, check out B/R Betting.

Must be 21+ and present in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, West Virginia, Colorado or Tennessee. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. See sportsbook.fanduel.com for details.