Report: Celtics to make run at Durant this summer

After getting bounced from the playoffs Thursday, Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge is switching focus to what could be a very active summer.

Armed with a strong collection of draft picks and considerable cap space, it is believed Ainge will be aggressive in free agency and will make a run at signing Kevin Durant, sources told Chris Mannix of The Vertical.

Mannix notes that the Celtics believe Durant will take a meeting with them this summer, but they will have to make other significant moves in order to sell him on coming to Boston. A potential deal to acquire Jimmy Butler from the Chicago Bulls, or signing Al Horford, are the types of steps Mannix believes could help show Durant that the Celtics are ready to win now.

The Celtics faithful did their part in trying to make Durant feel at home in March. While shooting free throws in the third quarter, the crowd began chanting "Come to Boston" at the seven-time All-Star.

Durant also expressed his fondness for Boston last month, saying he likes the city a lot and admires head coach Brad Stevens.

"I've been watching this team a lot. They're scrappy. They play hard. They love their coach," he said. "They love their system, and especially in this building, they play with a lot of energy."

The Celtics enter the summer coming off a 48-win season and could have up to $33 million in cap space depending on certain roster decisions. All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas remains under contract and Boston owns eight picks in the upcoming draft.