Tag: celtics trade targets

Report: Celtics have ‘been linked to Powell discussions as the deadline draws closer’

Could the Celtics be serious about dealing for Powell?

The Boston Celtics may be casting a wide net ahead of the 2021 NBA trade deadline, with Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer sharing that the Celtics are among the teams looking into a potential trade for the Toronto Raptors‘ Norman Powell.

Boston evidently joins the Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks in asking after the Raptors shooting guard, who is expected to opt out of the final year of his current, $10.8 million deal to test free agency this offseason. Powell is having something of a career year with Toronto despite the team’s recent woes, scoring 19.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game this season while shooting 44.4% from deep.

Per Fischer, there is a strong consensus the UCLA product will be moved before the deadline in at least some circles.

It would seem likely that the Raptors would have a high asking price in mind for such a player regardless, but at least at present there doesn’t seem to be much information out there what Toronto would be after if it did deal Powell.

Add the California native to a growing list of potential 2021 Celtics trade targets until we get some fire to this proverbial smoke.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

[mm-video type=video id=01f1d9gwqprqdgsnk8 playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f1d9gwqprqdgsnk8/01f1d9gwqprqdgsnk8-2897b6ba4ad7636e8f4f5a89c1452737.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=48124,48122,48120,48116]

[listicle id=48118]

Shams: Celtics a ‘potential suitor’ for Magic wing Evan Fournier

The Orlando wing could end up in green and white in some scenarios reportedly being discussed.

Evidently, it isn’t just star Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon the Boston Celtics may be interested in making a trade for ahead of the March 25 deadline, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania in a recent article detailing the lay of the 2021 trade market.

It seems the Celtics are a “potential suitor” for Evan Fournier, earning $17.1 million this season on an expiring contract. The veteran wing is putting up 19.3 points, 3 rebounds and 3.7 assist per game while shooting 46.2% from the field and 39% from beyond the arc, and would be a solid option for Boston to help shore up the team’s rotation after the loss of veteran forward Gordon Hayward in the offseason.

As with all such rumored interest, any potential deal would come down to the Magic’s ask for his services and Boston’s willingness to pay it.

With the $28.5 million traded player exception (TPE) generated by Hayward’s exit at their disposal, the Celtics may be in an advantageous position to add Fournier if it wishes to do so.

Should they pull the trigger, it would seem likely other trades might need to be forthcoming to keep the team below the luxury tax this season for longer-term cap management concerns.

Yet another option to keep an eye on as the Thursday deadline inches ever closer.

[mm-video type=video id=01f1d9gwqprqdgsnk8 playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f1d9gwqprqdgsnk8/01f1d9gwqprqdgsnk8-2897b6ba4ad7636e8f4f5a89c1452737.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=48120,48116,48060,48004]

[listicle id=48118]

Celtics have been exploring trade for Aaron Gordon, per multiple sources

Does a deal for the Magic forward make sense?

The Boston Celtics have been inquiring after the availability of Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon per multiple reports, and with The Athletic’s Jared Weiss and Sam Amick hearing the Magic forward has formally requested a trade, things could get thick and heavy quickly on that front.

Armed with the massive $28.5 million traded player exception (TPE) generated from veteran forward Gordon Hayward’s sign-and-trade to the Charlotte Hornets in the offseason, the Celtics have not exactly been very shy about making it known they are looking to make a move that makes sense for the team on this year’s trade market.

And while team president Danny Ainge has made it known he won’t deal just to deal, a move for Gordon makes sense.

Two low-cost playmaking trade targets to help Boston’s ball-movement woes

Boston needs playmaking that won’t break their budget, and these are two solid options.

You can point to a lot of things in an effort to diagnose what has been going wrong with the Boston Celtics in recent weeks, but perhaps one of the biggest has been structural.

The Celtics have two bonafide All-Stars on their roster, a veteran point guard who was an All-Star last season having solid to great play when he can stay on the court, and a rising force in the frontcourt putting up some serious numbers — yet these players can’t seem to get the rest of the team involved. A cursory glance at most of the stat lines produced by the bench confirms this, but it may be a structural problem tied to the team’s roster construction.

In short, this team is sorely lacking in genuine playmakers.

Could Chicago’s Lauri Markkanen be the ‘shooting with size’ Boston needs?

The Finnisher might make a lot of sense as a trade target, depending on what the Bulls want back.

By now it is common knowledge that the Boston Celtics are looking for some “shooting with size” as a potential criteria for trade targets ahead of the 2021 deadline, and with that intel intentionally leaked by Celtics team president Danny Ainge has come a raft of rumors and speculation of who it might be.

The combination of luxury tax concerns, future needs and the importance of upgrading the roster makes the path for Boston to commit to any deal a narrow one, but some recent rumbles from the vicinity of the Windy City suggest it could be wise to expand the field of potential Celtics trade targets a bit further.

Just today, an article proposing Boston pursue the Chicago Bulls’ Thad Young is making the rounds from our friends at The Athletic, but there’s another player the Celtics may want to consider probing the ask on based on what we’re hearing about the six-time champion franchise.

Athletic panel identifies 3 potential trades for the Celtics ahead of the deadline

The trio of options could be had without going into the luxury tax with the right offers.

As we cross into the threshold of the one-week mark away from the 2021 NBA trade deadline of March 25, speculation grows like weeds about what teams will pull off before the window to move players closes for the season.

And with a $28.5 million traded player exception (TPE) burning a hole in their collective pocket, the Boston Celtics are of course among the teams with the most eyes on them. and while plenty of discourse has been bandied about by the team’s front office and ownership about waiting until the offseason to use most if not all of the TPE, there’s a strong expectation we’ll see at least a smaller move or two from Boston before the 26th of March arrives.

To that end, a panel of experts from The Athletic including Jay King, John Hollinger and Jared Weiss got together to spitball some ideas that the Celtics could pursue, with some analysis on what it could take to get the call made to the league office as well.

WATCH: Is there anyone who can save the Boston Celtics season?

Just how much trouble is Boston in, and is there a way to fix it?

Right about now, Boston Celtics fans and players alike are searching for answers after yet another avoidable loss piles on the hurt and send the Celtics back to a .500 record in a season they had hoped to compete for a title.

Is such a lofty quest simply out of reach for this team? Or is there a path back to finding its way as the 2010 Boston squad was able to do? Could the right trade or trades ahead of the deadline help right the ship? These are exactly the questions asked by A. Sherrod Blakely and Kwani Lunis in the most recent episode of the CLNS “A-List” podcast.

The also talk about Robert Williams III and his rise in the organization in recent weeks and plenty more, so kick back and watch or listen to the podcast embedded above.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMTkR5_hXZ8

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

[lawrence-related id=47971,47966,47935,47931]

[listicle id=47978]

Could Kings’ Bagley, Bjelica make more sense for Celtics targets than Barnes?

Boston might do well to ask about some less popular options on the Kings’ roster.

A whole lot of ink is being spilled on whether the Boston Celtics are interested in (or should be) trading for Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes, but it might be worth pivoting to deal for another pair of Kings players who ought to be available to trade.

While we believe in the fit for Barnes moving forward with the Celtics — and appreciate his contract ending just as Boston might want to consider a significant roster shake up — the potential impact of Barnes’ current income could create some serious tax issues barring some artful maneuvering with the rest of the roster.

A pivot to veteran big man Nemanja Bjelica and former No. 2 overall draft pick Marvin Bagley III could be an enticing alternate path with the same team — let’s take a look at how.

https://twitter.com/TheCelticsWire/status/1370074237436846086?s=20

WATCH: Are Jerami Grant or Andre Drummond realistic options for Celtics?

Wading through the smokescreens in silly season sometimes requires professional help.

With two weeks to go to the 2021 NBA trade deadline, the rumors, speculation (and for some, irritation) is rising to a fever pitch. With the Boston Celtics having a $28.5 million traded player exception at their disposal to make a significant move at the deadline, the noise is especially loud for Celtics fans.

But what rumors are real — and more importantly, realistic? It’s one thing if Boston has interest in a player, but another entirely if there’s a shot of prying him loose. And not every player frequently mentioned in Celtics trade conversation makes sense, rumored or not.

With that in mind, the CLNS “A-List” podcast does its best to answer these questions, notably about Jerami Grant of the Detroit Pistons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p18fPI-I-Yc

Give a listen to the pod in the video embedded above and see if it changes your views on the viability of several oft-mentioned names in Celtics circles this season.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

[lawrence-related id=47655,47644,47631,47628]

[listicle id=47671]

If Boston waits to use its TPE, it might want to call about Houston’s Christian Wood

While he’s untouchable for now, Christian Wood may be worth calling about this offseason.

The Boston Celtics are trying to maintain a difficult balance moving forward by adding impact talent to the team to help the Celtics win now, while avoiding ending up as a luxury tax-paying team this season.

It’s not an easy balance given most players worth burning assets to trade for will eat up a fair amount of their $28.5 million traded player exception (TPE), which would likely force hard decisions at the end of next season. Important players such as veteran guard Marcus Smart and rising front court talent Robert Williams III are due big raises a season after the franchise added All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum’s hefty extension to the payroll.

Add the fact Kemba Walker’s contract has not looked like a positive value for some time now — though he is showing flashes that could change — and the teambuilding prospects for Boston are fraught with potential pratfalls.