From the Athletic:
The Celtics offered Brown, guard
Derrick White and a draft pick to the Nets for Durant, sources said. The proposal was rejected, and Brooklyn has asked Boston — in any proposal — to include Brown, Defensive Player of the Year
Marcus Smart, draft picks and potentially one more rotation player, those sources added. Currently, the Celtics are less inclined to include Smart along with multiple other player or pick assets, but the franchise is mulling over next steps on how to approach discussions.
This reporting is interesting if true. The draft pick must be an unprotected 2025 first - since they have traded their 2023 first, the Stepien rule blocks them from trading their 2024. Unless Stevens intends to go out and get a draft pick, but there seems no real path to doing that. Or maybe it is a 2024 pick swap?
Anyway, Brown+White+2025 unprotected first seems like a lowball offer. Almost a talk radio kind of offer.
So why make a lowball involving one of your stars - who will surely hear that you dangled him in trade talks?
Well, one possibility is that the lowball offer might be accepted. Years ago, I played in a fantasy baseball league with a guy who knew baseball very well (went on to do analytics for an MLB team), and his strategy in trades was to make his offer and just stick with it until someone gave in and made the deal. And he unsurprisingly usually got the better of his trades.
I don't think there's any chance the Celtics can persist with a lowball offer until Brooklyn just capitulates and agrees, but maybe there are other NBA factors at work here, such as Durant really wanting out.
Another possibility is that the Celtics are ready and willing to increase their offer if Brookyn is serious. Shams says the Celtics won't go Brown+Smart+picks (plural)+other rotation player (Brooklyn's ask), but will consider raising their offer.
I don't like the deal at Brooklyn's asking price. I'm skpetical about banking the whole future of the Tatum Celtics on an aging star - great as he is - who will be making so much money that the Celtics will struggle to afford to put a core around him and might be hauling in upwards of $50 MM during a couple of years where his production is notably worse than that. Giving up Smart AND a rotation player (White? Grant? Pritchard? Rob?) puts a lot of pressure on Brogdon to stay healthy and thins out the bench to a "worse than the bench that killed us against Golden State in the finals" level.
Maybe they just felt obliged to offer something, knowing it won't happen? This one I'm skeptical of. Not sure what they gain, and now they have to smooth things over with one of their 2 stars.
Also, would this deal mean Tatum starts at guard?