Kevin Durant Watch: Celtics Still In The Running As Decision Nears
By Brian Robb, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) – The Kevin Durant watch is on and the Celtics are still one of the final teams in contention for the superstar free agent according to multiple reports.
Chris Broussard of ESPN.com indicated late Saturday night that the 6-foot-9 forward is expected to make a decision no later than Monday about what team he will sign with.
The Miami Heat were the final suitors that Durant met with on Sunday, wrapping up three days of meetings in the Hamptons with six teams. The Thunder, Warriors, Spurs, Clippers and Celtics were the other franchises Durant held court with over the weekend. Oklahoma City was reportedly expected to get a final meeting with Durant on Sunday before he made his decision.
The Clippers are one team that already fell out of the running for Durant. Ben Bolch of the LA Times reported late Saturday night that the nine-time All-Star informed Doc Rivers and co. that he was no longer considering the Clippers as a landing spot. The Clippers responded immediately by using some of their cap size on their own free agents, agreeing to three-year deals with Austin Rivers and Wesley Johnson.
Unlike the Clippers, the Celtics seemed to leave a lasting impression in their star studded meeting with Durant. Tom Brady 'did a very good job' with Durant, according to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, and Boston's chances may have received some help later in the evening when big man Al Horford agreed to terms on a four-year max contract with the Celtics.
Zach Lowe of ESPN.com indicated in his Lowe Post Show podcast this past February that Horford was a big man that Durant would like to team up with.
"I heard from two really powerful guys (in NBA)," Lowe said, "Who don't normally BS around - they said that they have heard that Horford is on the shortlist of guys that Durant would really want to play with."
Broussard indicated in his report that Horford's presence in Boston would not be a determining factor for Durant's decision, but it certainly can't hurt the Celtics' odds either.
Whatever the case may be, Celtics fans will be on pins and needles for the remainder of the long weekend waiting to see whether Danny Ainge's master plan will come to fruition.
Brian Robb covers the Celtics for CBS Boston and contributes to NBA.com, among other media outlets. You can follow him on Twitter @CelticsHub.
