Four years ago today, the Boston Celtics had their free agency meeting with Kevin Durant. For Celtics fans, including myself, we were confident with the feeling of Kevin Durant coming to Boston to play for the Celtics. Even though he stupidly made the decision to sign with the Golden State Warriors, can we just think for a few minutes on what it would’ve felt like to have Kevin Durant on the Celtics?
Lets go back in time to the summer of the 2016 NBA off-season
The Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 3-1 series lead to the Golden State Warriors in the Finals, Tim Duncan announced his retirement, and Ben Simmons was the first overall pick in the 2016 in the NBA Draft.
For Kevin Durant, he was entering the offseason as an unrestricted free agent. His team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, were coming off a terrible end of their season after blowing a 3-1 series lead against the Golden State Warriors. For the Boston Celtics, they finished as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. Despite making the playoffs for a second year in a row, they fell to a veteran experience Atlanta Hawks team in six games. As a disappointing end to the season, the Celtics had the third pick in the NBA Draft and selected the forward from California, Jaylen Brown.
The Celtics were in need for another star to take the team over the top, and Durant was possibly looking to get out of Oklahoma City in a quest for an NBA Championship. This just seemed like a perfect match for the two. The Celtics had the cap space to sign Durant, and this was a chance for Kevin Durant to take the NBA by storm leading a new team.
Not only did the Celtics have the salary cap, but they had the salary cap to offer TWO max contracts. So if Kevin Durant was interested in coming to Boston, maybe he could call someone to team up with him and All-Star Isaiah Thomas.
The Celtics brought in some interesting players to the free agency meeting. Guys like Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Kelly Olynyk, Marcus Smart, and the New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Their pitch intrigued Durant a lot, and Durant recently said he was “ready” to come play in Boston. Especially since the Celtics were close to bringing in Al Horford who signed with the Boston Celtics the next day on July 3rd.
Unfortunately Kevin Durant made the WEAKEST move in the NBA by signing with the Golden State Warriors. THE TEAM THAT WON 73 GAMES IN THE REGULAR SEASON. As Celtics fans spent their 4th of July thinking about what could’ve been, what would’ve happened in Kevin Durant joined the Celtics?
The Celtics become the most dominant team in the Eastern Conference
The season after Kevin Durant joined the Warriors, the Celtics were the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. They got blasted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals losing 4-1, but could you imagine if the Celtics had Kevin Durant? I don’t see how the Cavaliers could beat such a good team. The Celtics with a dominant scorer along with Isaiah Thomas, Al Horford a double double machine, Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder key scorers and defenders, Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown young bright talent, with a top draft pick the year after, who is stopping that dominant team?
The Celtics would’ve won an NBA Championship if they stayed healthy. Kevin Durant’s rings would’ve been “legit” and they could’ve been the talked about team for years to come. Him and Isaiah Thomas could’ve been a deadly duo if he never got injured. They were both in their prime, and all they really needed was each other, especially Isaiah Thomas. The fit with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant never really worked, because they both wanted the ball and sometimes had team chemistry problems. Thomas would’ve put aside his ball dominance play, and would’ve been a lot less selfish when he handled the point guard.
As we look back at this day, I forever wish that Kevin Durant chose the Boston Celtics. I just could imagine what it would’ve been like winning multiple championships with the duo of Isaiah Thomas and Kevin Durant. As much as we didn’t like his decision, IT IS WHAT IT IS.
But I guess we will have to win multiple championships with the new trio of Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, and Jaylen Brown.
thesecondtake.sport.blog 