What matters most to Celtics about Kevin Durant rumors couldn't be more obvious

In a recent appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, ESPN's Shams Charania provided the latest update on the timeline for a potential Kevin Durant trade.

"I think there's a very good chance Kevin Durant is traded before the NBA Draft," said Charania.

From a Boston Celtics perspective, the most relevant aspect of this is that they and the Phoenix Suns, Durant's current team, are terrible trade partners.

Both are over the second apron. That means neither side can aggregate salaries in a trade. They also can't absorb more money than they're sending out.

So, while Boston latching on to a deal is a possible path toward getting under the second apron, becoming part of a workable three-team scenario that finds a new home for Durant is a monumental challenge.

The Celtics or Suns dipping below the second apron would change that outlook, but the latter will figure to want 2025 draft compensation in exchange for parting with Durant. Hence, Charnia's reporting the strong possibility of a deal happening before then.

Day one of this year's NBA Draft is Jun. 25. Boston getting below the second apron and then becoming the third party in a trade involving the four-time scoring champion and future Hall of Famer seems unlikely.

What about the Celtics trying to bring Durant to Boston?

Don't count on that either. The cost would be Jaylen Brown. A knee surgery that doesn't expect to prevent him from being ready for training camp doesn't move the needle in the direction of that being a favorable swap for Boston.

Brown is entering his age 29 season. Durant turns 37 at the end of September. The latter has a history of injuries, including a torn Achilles. He's proven remarkably durable since then. Returning to superstar form makes him an encouraging example for Jayson Tatum as he embarks on his recovery.

Tatum's the Celtics' only untouchable player. However, if they part with Brown, as prolific as Durant is, they can do a lot better. The combination of concerns surrounding the latter's age, injury history, and expiring contract isn't worth this gamble. The likelihood of Tatum missing most, if not all, of next season reinforces this.

Whether it was hoping the ping pong balls would bounce its way at the draft lottery in 2007 or courting him the summer he signed with the Golden State Warriors, Boston has come close to landing Durant.

As exciting as it would be to see him in Celtics green, this isn't the summer to change that.