Report: Kevin Durant gave Celtics list of players they need to sign

There are probably about 25 NBA teams that have interest in signing Kevin Durant, but only a handful of them have a realistic shot. Are the Boston Celtics among them?

In an interview with WEEI on Monday, Butch Stearns of FOX 25 in Boston cited a source who claims Durant’s agent has given the Celtics a list of players they would need to sign in order to have a shot at landing K.D.

“I have this on pretty good authority: The Celtics have sat with his agent and other representatives of Durant,” Stearns said. “The Celtics do know — I don’t know who it is — but they do know who he would prefer to be brought here in a LeBron [James]-Chris Bosh-Dwyane Wade-like way. Because that’s how it works in the NBA. You need to know who the guy or guys that that guy wants, which would be a factor.

“Now, I don’t know if Durant’s told them that. But the Celtics know. They know. They’ve been told what group of guys he would want to come here.”

It would stand to reason that Durant’s representatives have told all interested teams something similar. If Durant ends up leaving Oklahoma City, he won’t be looking to join a team that is years away from playoff contention.

We have already heard reports that teams like the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs are interested in signing Durant. Can the Celtics compete with those Western Conference powerhouses? As Stearns noted, the advantage they might have is that the East is weaker, and Durant would only have to — in theory — get through LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to make the Finals.

Like many teams, the Celtics are a long shot. That didn’t stop Isaiah Thomas from sending this tweet on Monday night, and it won’t stop Danny Ainge from trying to meet Durant’s demands if he has a chance to sign the top prize of the summer.