Boston Celtics ‘Believe’ They’ll Get A Meeting With Kevin Durant This Summer

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The 2015-16 NBA season has come to an end for the Boston Celtics after the Atlanta Hawks eliminated Isaiah Thomas and company in the first round of the playoffs on Thursday night. General Danny Ainge will head into the offseason with hopes of upgrading the roster with one big-name player in the team’s crosshairs.

Superstar Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder will become an unrestricted free agent this summer with many teams around the league expected to give him their best sales pitch. The Celtics hope to be one of the few teams that will get a meeting with Durant come July and believe they’ll be able to get him to come to Boston for a visit, via Chris Mannix of The Vertical:

Ainge will be aggressive in free agency, team sources told The Vertical, and yes, that means a run at Kevin Durant. The Celtics believe Durant will meet with them this summer, but they know that meeting won’t accomplish much unless there are significant moves leading into it.

At this point, there’s no telling what Durant will do once he officially becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Durant has made it clear that he intends to test the free-agent waters meaning he will explore his options and visit with teams, but it is unclear whether the Thunder are the favorite or which teams he will seriously consider signing with this summer.

The Celtics will be an intriguing option for Durant. Boston is a team on the rise after a few years of rebuilding following the departure of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo. Brad Stevens has quickly become one of the best young coaches in this league with a talented young roster and a slew of draft picks at his disposal.

Other potential candidates expected to pursue Durant this summer include the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, and Los Angeles Lakers.