Category: .Rumors

Report: Celtics assistant Charles Lee ‘front-runner’ to be Charlotte Hornets next head coach

It is looking more likely each day that the Celtics may have a Charles Lee-sized hole on their bench to fill this 2024 NBA offseason.

It is looking more likely each day that the Boston Celtics may have a Charles Lee-sized hole on their bench to fill this 2024 NBA offseason. The Celtics assistant is one of the hottest names out there in the Charlotte Hornets’ current search to replace current Hornets head coach Steve Clifford.

Clifford plans to transition to a front office role after this season, and Lee has been named as a top candidate by several outlets, most recently by the Charlotte Observer’s Roderick Boone. Per the reporter, Lee, Denver Nuggets assistant David Adelman, Miami Heat assistant Chris Quinn, Dallas Nuggets assistant Sean Sweeney and Brooklyn Nets assistant Will Weaver are all “early names to keep an eye on.”

“Two high-ranking officials on separate teams — one from each conference — believe Lee is a lead candidate and front-runner to be Clifford’s successor,” Boone notes, intriguingly.

The report makes sense, given the Celtics assistant was a hot name in coaching searches even before he left the Milwaukee Bucks to join Boston ahead of the start of the 2023-24 season.

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Should Celtics consider Otto Porter Jr. if veteran wing hits buyout market?

If the Utah Jazz and veteran wing Otto Porter Jr. agree to a contract buyout, should the Celtics get involved?

At the time of this writing, the Boston Celtics have an open roster spot and could look to add another player ahead of the postseason. That may mean signing an existing free agent or adding a player who accepts a contract buyout in the next few days and weeks. As such, one name to monitor might be Utah Jazz veteran Otto Porter Jr.

Porter joined the Jazz at the trade deadline of this year, and according to the Athletic’s Tony Jones, Utah is giving the 30-year-old time to evaluate his options. The Jazz are unlikely to make a run at a playoff berth, and a contract buyout would allow Porter a chance to join a contender before the regular season ends.

The Celtics are considering their own options. After adding Xavier Tillman and Jaden Springer, could Boston prioritize bringing in an experience player to round out the roster?

Report: Boston Celtics among several teams that made serious offers for Andre Drummond

Alas, Big Penguin in Boston was not meant to be.

It seems that one of the more popular hypothetical trade ideas for the Boston Celtics could have come to fruition, but the Celtics would ultimately decide to go in another direction at the NBA’s 2024 trade deadline instead. According to new reporting from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Chicago Bulls veteran big man Andre Drummond “also drew trade interest” from Boston before the Celtics “went in other directions.:

That direction would of course be their decision to trade for Memphis Grizzlies big man Xavier Tillman, Sr., who Boston picked up for the contract of forward Lamar Stevens and a pair of second round picks.

According to Scotto, the Bulls were looking for a trio of second round picks to seal the deal for the UConn alum, which likely sunk the move for the Celtics with the Tillman deal on the table.

To be fair, Drummond is the better player, but one can also make the case that he duplicates a skill set Boston already has on their roster in Neemias Queta with Queta having upside for growth.

As does Tillman, whose comparative youth at age 25 and expiring contract with Bird rights make the former Grizzlies big man a solid option for building out the team’s options in future, cap-crunched seasons.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Might a reunion with Danilo Gallinari be on the table for the Boston Celtics?

There are rumbles Boston could be interested in a do-over.

The Boston Celtics purposefully left a roster spot open for their 15-man regular season roster at the NBA’s 2024 trade deadline. Planning to survey the options available among players bought out this season, they also face some barriers there.

Such candidates must have made less than the $12.4 million full midlevel exception to be eligible to sign with the Celtics, per the terms of the league’s new collective bargaining agreement. And though there is a solid supply of such candidates, would it make sense for Boston to reach out to an alum who never actually played for them?

We are talking about former Washington Wizards big man Danilo Gallinari, who had signed with Boston previously, but never suited up for the team after an injury in the 2022 offseason.

Per recent reporting from NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin, the Celtics “have some level of interest” in a reunion, along with the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s unclear how interested either party actually would be in making that reunion happen, but it’d be a good narrative at least.

Gallo has said in the past he holds no ill feelings towards Boston for dealing him away, but that could be PR on his part. And Boston may want an option who is better than Gallinari is at this stage of his career.

But if they want a big to bomb away from the corner, the Italian forward is eligible to sign with the club again.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Rumor: Boston Celtics on the hunt for ‘potential defensive wing upgrades’

The situation is as muddy as it can get when it comes to trade intel.

It is the pinnacle of Silly Season ahead of the final moments remaining in the NBA’s 2024 trade deadline, with the moratorium on deals for the season to fully arrive by 3 p.m. ET today. And that silliness can be seen in conflicting reports on whether the Boston Celtics are done making moves ahead of it.

Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer believes Boston is done for the day, but MassLive’s Brian Robb had heard that the Celtics plan to stay active ahead of the deadline in search of additional moves. Add in that HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto has heard that Boston is exploring ways to bolster their bench, and it gets murkier.

The HoopsHype reporter shares that Boston “has also gauged the market on packaging some of their minimum contract players, such as Svi Mykhailiuk and Dalano Banton, along with future draft pick compensation, for potential defensive wing upgrades.”

The situation is as muddy as it can get when it comes to trade intel.

Given Fischer’s is the most recent, perhaps it is also the most accurate — or smokescreen to try to get an ask down to a level worth calling in the deal.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Celtics rumored to be looking to make another move ahead of the 2024 NBA trade deadline

With Boston a little thinner on the wing after letting go of Lamar Stevens, that seems the likely archetype the Celtics might be after.

The Boston Celtics are reportedly not out of the trade deadline business just yet despite having picked up Memphis Grizzlies backup big man Xavier Tillman, Sr. per recent reporting from MassLive’s Brian Robb. “Boston is likely to make another move ahead of the trade deadline in the wake of the Tillman deal,” explains the MassLive reporter.

“Brad Stevens has been open about wanting to add more wing depth to the roster and losing (Lamar) Stevens in the Tillman deal could be a sign the team plans to bring in another body at that spot.” speculates Robb. With Boston a little thinner on the wing after letting go of Stevens, that seems the likely archetype the Celtics might be after.

“Boston still has six future second round draft picks available for trade including two for the 2024 NBA draft,” notes Robb. “The team also has three future first round picks among their assets.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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What are the Boston Celtics’ 2024 NBA trade deadline possibilities?

Who are the likely targets that Boston might be after? What else do we need to know?

The Boston Celtics have made their first move ahead of the NBA’s 2024 trade deadline, picking up Memphis Grizzlies reserve big man Xavier Tillman, Sr. for a pair of second round picks and backup forward Lamar Stevens. But there are rumbles that the ball club will stay active on the trade market right up to the deadline, so what else might Celtics team president Brad Stevens and the rest of the front office have planned?

Who are the likely targets that Boston might be after? What are the parameters that the Celtics have to work within imposed by the league’s new collective bargaining agreement and the team’s cap structure?

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast sat down with Celtics Blog’s Jack Simone to talk through what we might see by the time the 3 p.m. ET deadline passes on Thursday afternoon.

Check it out above!

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Boston rumored to be interested in trading for Utah Jazz floor general

As with Kelly Olynyk, a trade for Dunn would be a reunion of sorts, if only technically.

It seems the Boston Celtics have a lot of interest in players on the Utah Jazz as potential trade targets. MassLive’s Brian Robb reports that in addition to former Boston big man Kelly Olynyk and Italian forward Simone Fontecchio, that the Celtics might want to trade for defensive-minded point guard Kris Dunn as well.

“The Jazz have two players that could fit the bill on that front as the team has kicked the tires on 6-foot-7 Italian forward Simone Fontecchio and former lottery pick Kris Dunn,” writes Robb. As with Olynyk, a trade for Dunn would be a reunion of sorts. But only of the technical variety, as the Providence alum was dealt to Boston in the move to ship Tristan Thompson to the Sacramento Kings in the 2021 offseason.

But Dunn was then dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies before the start of the 2021-22 season, who waived him.

After a stint with the Portland Trail Blazers, Dunn latched onto the Jazz and elevated his game to where it is now, with the Connecticut native putting up 5.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game with Utah in a high-use reserve role.

A dogged defender who can move the ball and score a bit with a career-high 40.9% of his treys going in this season, we think a Dunn addition could compliment Payton Pritchard’s offensively-oriented game.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Rumor: Celtics interested in trading for surprise Utah Jazz forward

Fontecchio fits the bill of a bigger forward Boston is reportedly looking for.

There has been plenty of ink spilled on the possibility of a reunion between the Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz big man Kelly Olynyk. But rumbles of the Celtics having interest in trading for another member of the Jazz’ roster have begun to percolate.

According to The Athletic’s Tony Jones, Italian forward Simone Fontecchio has caught the eye of Boston’s front office. “Utah’s starting small forward has emerged as a serious trade target for two contending teams,” writes Jones, naming the Celtics and Phoenix Suns as those teams. “Both teams need to strengthen their respective second units, and Fontecchio has an easy salary number for Phoenix and Boston to get to as he is in the final year of a contract that pays him $3.1 million annually.”

“Fontecchio has emerged this season as an effective rotation-level player,” he adds. “He has shot the ball well, particularly since being inserted into the starting lineup. He’s also proven to be at least an adept wing defender.”

“The Celtics need frontcourt depth,” Jones rightly notes, “and Fontecchio would be a good fit there. He’s a shooter with size and length, which will allow him to play in lineups with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. He’s fearless on the floor.”

“The Celtics are in a better spot and have a few firsts at their disposal,” he adds, though we feel anything beyond this coming draft’s first round pick would be too much — and then, only if no players were going out in the deal.

More likely, an array of three or even four second-rounders feels fair for both parties in our estimation, and Fontecchio fits the bill of a bigger forward Boston is reportedly looking for.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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New trade rumor has Celtics eyeing two NBA vets ahead of deadline

Could the Celtics swing a trade for either of these NBA vets ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline?

The NBA trade deadline is this Thursday, February 8, and the Boston Celtics have reportedly been active in looking to add some bench depth to the team’s depth chart. According to Yahoo Sports reporter Jake Fischer, the Celtics are eyeing two veterans in particular who could help round out the roster with the postseason on the horizon.

Fischer reported Otto Porter Jr of the Toronto Raptors could be a viable option for the Celtics. Likewise, Brooklyn Nets guard Lonnie Walker IV is also a name to keep an eye on. Either could provide an upgrade to Boston’s bench, as well as offer injury insurance.

The Celtics have a traded player exception worth approximately $6.25 million thanks to the sign-and-trade deal that sent Grant Williams to the Dallas Mavericks. This gives Boston a little more flexibility in bringing in a player without needing to send out too much salary.