The Boston Celtics haven't been linked as much to Kevin Durant as some other teams.
But if a KD trade from Phoenix is to happen, the Celtics could wind up being facilitators even if they aren't the final destination.
NBA insider Zach Lowe sees Jrue Holiday as a possible piece to make a three-team trade work.
“The focus for me is on Jrue Holiday,” Lowe said on his podcast. “I’ve heard that there have been at least very broad discussions of three-team, Durant-related trades where Jrue Holiday is (included). I think these could be conjured by Phoenix in hopes of getting a deal done, more-or-less, where Jrue Holiday moves somewhere. Just like he was the shrapnel in the (Damian Lillard) trade and ended up in Boston.”
Holiday has three years remaining on a four-year, $135 million contract extension that doesn't look like it'll age particularly well.
He can still be a useful backcourt piece, but there are only certain teams that could fit both his money and his skillset.
The salary is the biggest key here, because it helps with matching salaries in any Durant deal.
Durant to Boston would be a really cool outcome, but even if somehow the Celtics were getting other pieces instead in a three-way negotiation, the chance to get out from under Holiday's contract would work out as a win in the long term, anyways.
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