Getty Robert Williams, Boston Celtics
Robert Williams was exceptional for the Boston Celtics last season, becoming one of their most consistent players and anchoring a league-leading defense following his move to a free-safety role in the new year.
As such, it’s understandable that the Louisiana native would be one of the Celtics’ most coveted stars, irrespective of his concerning injury history, because the fact remains, when healthy, Williams is one of the best rim protectors in the NBA.
In fact, you couldn’t blame the Brooklyn Nets if they decided to demand Williams as part of the Kevin Durant trade package, should Boston decide to return to the negotiating table. However, according to a report by NBC Sport’s Kurt Helin, the Celtics have made it clear that Robert Williams is ‘off the table’ in any trade discussions.
Kevin Durant reportedly now sees Boston as “desired landing spot”
“There’s good reason for pessimism, Durant’s ultimatum to Nets owner Joe Tsai did not light a fire under trade talks. If anything, it made it far less likely a deal gets done in the short term. — why would Boston improve its offer now? It robbed the Nets of leverage. For example, Brooklyn was trying to get Boston to put Smart in the trade, but why would they even consider it now? That said, even without Smart (or Robert Williams III, sources told NBC Sports he is not available), a Celtics offer with Jaylen Brown may be the best one the Nets will see,” Helin wrote on August 10.
Williams’ performances this past season were so impressive that they catapulted the fourth-year big man into the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team, vindicating Brad Stevens’ decision to provide the young six-foot-eight center with a contract extension before the season began.
Celtics Considered Leading Team for Kevin Durant Trade
Even when removing Robert Williams from negotiations, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the Celtics have the best possible trade package for Durant – at least out of the interested parties.
A deal including Jaylen Brown and Derrick White could potentially be enough to convince Brooklyn to part with their superstar if Durant continues to apply pressure in the background. Of course, Brooklyn would probably want to receive Marcus Smart in any potential trade, but given Durant’s reported interest in playing with the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, it might be a smart move for the Celtics to stand strong on their stance of not trading him.
According to an August 9 report by The Atheltic’s Shams Charania on an episode of the Pat McAfee show, Boston is currently the leading candidate for acquiring Durant but is not inclined to blow up their roster to get the deal done.
“The Boston Celtics are a leading team for Kevin Durant when you look at the pieces that they have” ~@ShamsCharania
“When you look at the landscape, the Celtics are probably a leading team for Kevin Durant when you look at the pieces that they have. (They have) Jaylen Brown, (they’re) able to add draft picks, other players. If Brooklyn goes that direction, you want as much as you can get, and that includes Marcus Smart, draft picks, which right now, from what I’m told, Boston’s not inclined to do,” Charania said.
Brooklyn Originally Asked for Tatum and Brown
We’re all aware of the art of negotiation, and how it’s always best to ask for too much, and then negotiate down to a position where you were always going to be comfortable. And, according to an August 10 report by Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe, that’s precisely what the Nets did to Boston, requesting both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as part of a Durant trade package.
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“According to the source, Brooklyn initially tried to pry both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown from Boston. That proposal went nowhere, of course. The source confirmed recent reports that Brooklyn later shifted its focus to a potential deal centered on Brown, Marcus Smart, and a massive haul of future first-round draft picks. But the Celtics were not interested,” Himmelsbach reported.
Obviously, Boston was never going to include both of their superstars in a trade for Durant, but you can’t blame the Nets for trying! And at least both parties now have some idea of where the other stands in terms of negotiations, and that could help in any future negotiations in the coming weeks and months.