Kevin Durant rejected the Boston Celtics when he was an NBA free agent in 2016, but would he re-consider the C's next summer if he decides to leave the Golden State Warriors after this season?
Durant is able to become a free agent if he declines his 2019-20 player option, and rumors have linked him to several teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers and Celtics.
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith broke down the top five teams Durant should consider in free agency next year during a segment on Friday's edition of "First Take", and the Celtics made the list.
Here's what Smith had to say about the C's and Durant:
The Celtics, much like the Warriors, are loaded with star players, committed ownership and a smart front office. The C's are in a strong position to be championship contenders for a long time. Boston's best players also are a little younger than Golden State's, and maybe that would be appealing to Durant.
Of course, signing Durant would be difficult for teams like the Celtics that already have a high payroll and multiple max contracts. The Celtics would need to get creative to acquire Durant in a trade or via free agency, but few front office executives are as shrewd as Danny Ainge and Mike Zarren.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics' best plan, depending on how the season shakes out, might be to just bring most of the same guys back next season. The C's are in a good spot either way.
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