The NBA free agency rumors are on full swing even though the top targets are still battling in the playoffs.
The teams who were eliminated could be compared to vultures waiting intently for their prey to lose. An early playoff exit could be a factor that would push players like Kevin Durant and Al Horford to consider changing addresses.
The Boston Celtics are poised to go all out in pursuit of Kevin Durant, Al Horford and other big names. Their main selling points: having a young, dynamic coach and gritty young players who have managed to reach the playoffs even without a superstar. They also now have an All-Star guard in Isaiah Thomas.
While they also have multiple draft picks now and in the future, these are seen as trade assets and would only matter if they are converted into a star player. Nevertheless, the Boston Celtics believe that they can get a meeting with the former MVP as shared by Chris Mannix in Yahoo Sports.
"The Celtics believe Durant will meet with them this summer, but they know that meeting won't accomplish much unless there are significant moves leading into it. Durant will be 28 in September, and the former MVP isn't interested in hearing what a team could someday become," Mannix wrote.
It seems like a chicken and egg situation for the Celtics: a trade for a superstar is needed to attract Durant but most players would also want to be transferred to a team with someone to work with.
Despite these challenges, former All-Star and Finals MVP Chauncey Billups believes that the Celtics are a better destination than their arch rivals, LA Lakers. He shared his views on a video (h/t NESN).
He argued that Boston is "ready-made to win" rather than the Lakers whose only achievement so far is to hire Luke Walton.
But NESN notes that the battle is not between LA and Boston but almost the entire league.
"Danny Ainge has proven to be a far more effective president of basketball operations for the Celtics, but persuading Durant to choose the Celtics over teams like the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Thunder won't be easy," NESN stated.