Report: Celtics intend to pursue Kevin Durant this summer

It doesn’t come as much of a surprise, but the Boston Celtics are reportedly gearing up for a run at Kevin Durant.

According to Chris Mannix of the Vertical, the Celtics will be “aggressive” in free agency, and they hope to get a meeting with Durant. There is suspicion they will go get another big name – Jimmy Butler and Al Horford are mentioned – to show Durant that they are serious about contending for championships in the immediate future.

Mannix doesn’t rule out a slower rebuild, citing the team’s young core that is largely under contract for the foreseeable future, but notes that team president Danny Ainge is an aggressive rebuilder who won’t simply wait around for the core to mature.

Boston fans have already made themselves clear to Durant. The point about them proving themselves championship contenders is an important one, given that two of the other teams Durant has been linked to are probably the best in the league. The Celtics may, however, be able to sell themselves as the team best poised to have success going forward.