{"id":1549186,"date":"2023-02-06T15:32:04","date_gmt":"2023-02-06T20:32:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1549186"},"modified":"2023-02-06T15:34:05","modified_gmt":"2023-02-06T20:34:05","slug":"heres-the-only-reason-stephen-a-smiths-whispers-of-jaylen-brown-for-kevin-durant-talk-make-any-sense-for-the-boston-celtics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/heres-the-only-reason-stephen-a-smiths-whispers-of-jaylen-brown-for-kevin-durant-talk-make-any-sense-for-the-boston-celtics\/","title":{"rendered":"Here's the Only Reason Stephen A. Smith's Whispers of Jaylen Brown for Kevin Durant Talk Make Any Sense for the Boston Celtics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It always seems like when there's trouble with the Brooklyn Nets,<\/a> Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics<\/a> somehow get involved. It happened over the summer when Nets star Kevin Durant publicly requested a trade before pulling back. It's happening again after the Nets traded disgruntled guard Kyrie Irving<\/a> to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does the Irving trade mean for Durant? Will it have a domino effect, with Durant now being on the block? On Monday's edition of ESPN's First Take,<\/em> Stephen A. Smith told listeners to “keep an eye” on that Durant to Boston talk, with Brown, again, being involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jaylen Brown for Kevin Durant only makes sense for the Boston Celtics on one condition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Here's
Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets and Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics in action during NBA playoffs between Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics at the Barclays Center on April 25, 2022. | Tayfun Coskun\/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Let's just be smart here from a Celtics standpoint. The Celtics have had the best record in the NBA for the better part of the 2022-23 NBA season. They're fresh off an NBA Finals appearance, and they're the favorites to win it all this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Led by the young duo of Brown and Jayson Tatum, the Celtics are set up to win now and down the road. After coming up short against the Golden State Warriors in the championship round last season, the Celtics addressed their biggest issue \u2014 depth. They added veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon<\/a> via trade, and he's the leader of one of the best second units in the league.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trading Brown for a 34-year-old Durant would seem foolish for the Celtics. Durant still has a lot left in the tank, but why break up a good thing if you're the Celtics?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There's only one reason why the Celtics would even consider a Durant-for-Brown deal, and that would come down to a decision on Brown's part. After this year, Brown has one year left on his four-year, $106 million extension he signed before the 2020-21 season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only reason the Celtics should entertain moving him is if he's planning to test free agency after next season. Brown is a talented player, but he's second-best to Tatum. What if Brown's intentions are to hold off on signing an extension with the Celtics so he can become a free agent and play for the highest bidder? If that's the case, you can't risk him walking and getting nothing in return. You'd have to seriously consider moving him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe Stephen A. Smith and the Celtics know something we don't<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

.@stephenasmith<\/a> says to "keep your eye on" KD to Boston \ud83d\udc40\ud83c\udf7f pic.twitter.com\/y0T3wDyM66<\/a><\/p>— First Take (@FirstTake) February 6, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>