Brooklyn Nets Receive: G/F Jaylen Brown, G Marcus Smart, 2024 First-Round Pick (BOS), 2026 First-Round Pick (BOS), 2029 First-Round Pick (Swap – BOS)

Boston Celtics Receive: F Kevin Durant

If a straight swap occurs between the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics that lands Kevin Durant in Boston, this is how it’s likely to look.

In fact, it seems as if the Nets would accept this package tomorrow. Reports indicate that the Celtics offered Brown, draft capital, and Derrick White, and the Nets countered by swapping White for Smart.

We can forgive Boston for being tentative. Marcus Smart just won a Defensive Player of the Year award. His contributions are invaluable, and he’s the type of player you’d want around if you were acquiring Kevin Durant.

At the same time, the Boston Celtics must know they’ll be paying a substantial price for Kevin Durant. He is, after all, Kevin Durant. Landing them would make them arguably NBA championship favorites in 2022-23.

LATEST NBA NEWS AND RUMORS: 1 Major Obstacle In Boston Celtics Trade Talks For Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant

Meanwhile, this is probably as good as the Nets can do for Durant. Since they owe their first-round picks, whether outright or via swap, to the Houston Rockets through to 2027, they need to stay competitive by landing quality players. Unless, of course, there was a way to get those picks back…