Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns
Celtics’ Near Miss with Kevin Durant Trade Looks Like a Blessing in Disguise
Back during the 2022-23 season, when Kevin Durant shocked the NBA world with his trade request from the Brooklyn Nets, the Boston Celtics were one of the first teams to make a call. According to a report from Shams Charania, the Celtics offered a significant package: Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and a first-round pick in exchange for the two-time Finals MVP.
The Nets ultimately turned the offer down, opting instead to send Durant to the Phoenix Suns in a blockbuster deal on February 9, 2023. At the time, many questioned whether the Celtics had missed a golden opportunity to pair Durant with Jayson Tatum and go all-in on chasing a championship.
Now, with the benefit of hindsight, it’s clear that Brooklyn’s rejection may have been the best thing to happen to the Celtics.
Since that failed trade, Boston has soared. The Celtics captured the 2024 NBA title—beating the Dallas Mavericks in the Finals—while Jaylen Brown, the very player dangled in those trade talks, earned Finals MVP honors. Alongside Tatum, Brown has continued to elevate his game, proving himself not just as a reliable co-star, but a franchise cornerstone in his own right. Derrick White has also blossomed into one of the league’s premier two-way guards.
Meanwhile in Phoenix, Durant’s tenure has fallen short of expectations. The Suns were bounced by the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 2023 playoffs, and things got even worse the following year, when they were swept in the opening round by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2024. Rumors are already swirling about a possible breakup between Durant and the Suns this summer.
Brooklyn, on the other hand, has spiraled into a full rebuild, with their eyes now firmly set on winning the 2025 draft lottery.
As for Boston? They’re sitting near the top of the Eastern Conference standings again this season, looking every bit the part of a reigning champ ready to defend its crown. If they succeed, they’ll be the first team since the 2017-18 Warriors to repeat as NBA champions.
What once looked like a missed opportunity for the Celtics is now shaping up to be a franchise-saving decision—one that preserved the chemistry, youth, and continuity of a championship core.
Sometimes, the best trades are the ones you don’t make.
