Report: Boston Celtics ‘have emerged as suitors’ for Davis Bertans

The Boston Celtics may be looking to add Washington Wizards sharpshooting swingman Davis Bertans to add to the team’s wing depth.

Washington Wizards swingman Davis Bertans is a trade target of the Boston Celtics, reports NBC Sports Washington’s Chase Hughes.

Before today, the Celtics have been tied to several big men who might hit the trade market before the February 6 deadline, with few if any looking plausible.

This has been due to a combination of issues, ranging from a dearth of targets who would fit the Celtics’ wing-centric system to a lack of viable contracts for salary matching, among others.

Boston’s success this season could be at risk if the larger-salaried players were dealt in a roster-boosting trade, and trade-checker fantasies involving three or more players and/or teams are simply implausible in a cap-constricted league environment.

The Athletic’s John Hollinger suggested Boston might be on the hunt for a wing player, and Bertans is among several candidates who might fit the bill of what the Celtics are looking for in any mid-season moves.

The interest of Boston noted by Hughes is no anomaly, either.

The Washington beat writer lists the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Philadelphia 76ers as competition for the 6-foot-10 swingman.

Bertans is mobile enough to play as a forward in the Celtics system, but with enough size to fill in as a big in some matchups, making him an ideal target save longer-term cap concerns to resign the Valmiera native.

Logging 15.4 points, 1.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 43.4 % from three over 8.6 attempts per contest for the Wizards this season, Bertans has landed on a lot of team’s radars to date.

Unfortunately for all of them — Boston included — it seems general manager Tommy Sheppard is not interested in dealing the 27-year-old forward at present.

On a $7 million expiring contract that would be easy for most teams to trade for (Celtics included), Bertans may garner a deal in the $15-20 million range in a relatively dull free agency market this summer.

Boston has several first-round picks which could convey in the 2020 NBA Draft (including a 2020 Memphis pick that could fall in the lottery and convey if outside top-six protections) and several young prospects that might change Sheppard’s mind about dealing the Latvian sharpshooter.

Bertans will likely be intensely pursued until rival teams are told a deal is out of the question, so the Wizards GM would be wise to take his time and let offers build as the deadline approaches.

It seems unlikely a trade will come anytime soon, but it’s something for Celtics fans to monitor in the meantime.

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