Things have been slow on the Kevin Durant trade front since he requested a move from the Brooklyn Nets near the end of June. With the start of the annual NBA training camp period near, Durant ultimately decided to stay with the team by recommitting.

It sounded as if the Boston Celtics were the leaders in the clubhouse. They were far from the only team involved, as the Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns were still pursuing him, along with the Toronto Raptors continuing to lurk. 

The New Orleans Pelicans were still interested in making a run, while the Memphis Grizzlies emerged as a suitor. Within the last month, the Atlanta Hawks reportedly made an offer to the Nets.

There are also dark-horse teams in the Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers that were mentioned as well. All of those teams may have a baseline that they know they have to beat now.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, people around the league know that the Celtics had the pieces to make a deal work. Jaylen Brown was at the center of the rumors, giving teams an idea of what they would have had to offer to compete with Boston.

Among the interested teams, the Celtics have been viewed across the league as the clear-cut answer as the team that has the ingredients to make a deal with Brooklyn happen. For now, Boston has not included guard Marcus Smart or center Robert Williams in a proposal, sources said. The Celtics have up to three first-round picks available to trade to Brooklyn. When Brooklyn rejected Boston’s offer last month, the Nets countered by requesting Brown, Smart, draft picks and potentially one more rotation player, according to sources.

So yes, Boston has the necessary pieces and Brooklyn has listened, but a gap exists.

Based on reports from Charania, most teams were unwilling to include the player that the Nets are seeking from them. However, if they were serious about landing Durant, that would have had to change knowing that Boston is seemingly was in the driver’s seat.

Already title contenders, Brad Stevens is walking a fine line when it comes to shaking up the Celtics’ roster. Durant is worth the asking price as he remains one of the best players in the world, but would he be enough of an upgrade when considering how strong the chemistry of the team is?

That is what ownership and the front office would have had to figure out. Because, as things were, it sounded as if Boston could have had Durant if they were willing to part ways with Marcus Smart or Robert Wiliams III.

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