Tag: Signing rumors

Celtics Lab 234: Why Boston is probably not making big moves at the deadline with Yossi Gozlan

Boston probably won’t stand pat, but isn’t likely to make major moves – so what IS on the table?

With the Boston Celtics rolling and their path to hanging Banner 18 looking more possible than it has in many years, you can’t fault fans of the storied ball club for hoping for a reunion with former Boston big men Daniel Theis or Kelly Olynyk. Or failing that, team president Brad Stevens getting a deal done for rumored target Isaiah Stewart to fortify the team’s frontcourt.

Even fairly modest trades like these are probably not in the cards for the Celtics this season, who can’t follow through with an offer that makes sense given the exigencies of the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement or the team’s current structure.

But the team will almost certainly make at least a few lesser moves to get better ahead of the NBA’s 2024 trade deadline in Early February, so the hosts of CLNS Media’s “Celtics Lab” podcast linked up with Cap Sheets‘ Yossi Gozlan to try to project what it is Boston actually will end up doing.

We also get into why those fun but unrealistic deals bringing back Celtics alumni or Beef Stew are unlikely or impossible, and get caught up on the last Boston news of 2023.

The Celtics Lab podcast is brought to you by FanDuel.

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 reunion for Daniel Theis may be out as rumbles of Clipper interest percolate

As with Boston, Theis would likely need the Pacers to buy him out for this to happen.

The Daniel Theis faithful hoping for a potential return of the German big man to the Boston Celtics for a third go-round may soon be heartbroken to hear rumbles that the Salzgitter native is rumored to be close to the buyout Celtics fans were hoping for — but with plans to join a different ball club once bought out.

A “growing belief” has been reported by Fieldhouse Files’ Scott Agness regarding the Los Angeles Clippers planning to add Theis to their roster post-buyout. Agness correctly notes that Theis would likely need a buyout to get to Los Angeles since the Clippers — like Boston — can’t easily deal for the World Cup champ given the state of their cap sheet.

From a fan perspective, seeing that familiar face back in green and white at a position of need may sound attractive.

But, a bigger role on a potential contender that has not already traded one away twice may have an appeal that the Celtics by definition cannot reach (at least regarding the latter point).

This makes decampment to the Clips make all the sense in the world for Theis, especially after word that the German center is out for his current team, the Indiana Pacers, “for personal reasons” of an undisclosed nature.

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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Report: Jaylen Brown-Boston Celtics supermax extension talks on pause

No need to panic, per reports — Brown is simply headed overseas for a prior committment.

If you were hoping the Jaylen Brown supermax extension saga with the Boston Celtics would end in the next day or two, you might want to adjust your expectations based on what we are hearing from the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach.

Per the Globe reporter, while “talks between Brown and the Celtics have been progressing, Brown, a National Basketball Players Association vice president, is headed overseas for an organizational event, and … plans to meet with the Celtics again when he returns.” Himmelsbach notes it is unclear how long Brown will be abroad, “but there is expected to be a temporary pause in the negotiations during his absence.”

“Brown’s departure is not related to any setback with the Celtics; he is simply honoring a scheduled commitment,” adds Himmelsbach.

Importantly, both sides are reportedly in no rush to get the deal done, with the “holdup … likely related to incentive structure, or clauses such as a fifth-year player option like the one fellow Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum received when he agreed to his extension in 2020.”

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 is far from done’ making teambuilding moves: Robb

“In all likelihood, the team’s nine future first-round picks will not go unused this season,” writes MassLive.

Could the Boston Celtics have more major moves to make? According to new reporting from Masslive’s Brian Robb, they very well might not be done revamping their roster in pursuit of a title after trading Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porzingis. 

“In all likelihood, the team’s nine future first-round picks will not go unused this season as Boston makes a huge push for the title this year while recalibrating for the future,” writes Robb about Boston’s team-building aspirations. “There’s no guarantee the team will be able to retain Porzingis alongside the rest of the supporting cast in 2024 alongside (Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown) with this new CBA, so look for all holes on the roster for 2023-24 to be filled.”

“Whether Stevens elects to do more of that with younger talent or more trade/free agent activity remains to be seen, but one league source insists Boston is far from done.”

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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Might the Dallas Mavs and Boston Celtics swap Grant Williams for the No. 10 pick of the 2023 draft?

A sign and trade might be just what both teams are after, but it won’t happen before the draft from the sound of things.

Could the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics sign and trade Grant Williams for the No. 10 pick of the 2023 NBA draft?

The Celtics have been fielding such calls at a higher-than-expected rate with the former Tennessee player’s value as a restricted free agent in demand.

Boston can’t afford to lose his depth in the frontcourt without finding a way to rebalance the roster at the same time it needs to take care of their cap situation under the league’s new collective bargaining agreement.

Recent reporting from The Athletic’s Tim Cato related the Mavs have been one of the teams looking into a sign-and-trade deal for the Charlotte native.

“Dallas isn’t interested in using its pick to acquire him,” noted Cato, but “there may be other ways to complete that deal with Boston’s help if Dallas decides to seriously pursue it.”

However, Cato suggests “it makes a big difference for Dallas’ summer plans if a deal involving a free agent, like this one would be, is agreed to on draft night involving the No. 10 pick or completed another way after the fact.”

It’s possible the players already on Dallas’ roster Boston might want back in a sign-and-trade would make bringing on Williams moot, but the ballast of the player’s salary at No. 10 plus other contracts could make such a deal CBA-legal without thinning the roster further.

There could also be additional compensation headed to Dallas, or a multi-team deal in their hoped-for plans, plans worth monitoring for fans of the Celtics given all of the chatter we have been hearing.

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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Weiss: Boston Celtics have had ‘over half a dozen teams’ asking after a Grant Williams sign and trade

The market for Boston Celtics reserve forward Grant Williams is a considerable one based on what The Athletic is hearing.

The market for Boston Celtics reserve forward Grant Williams is a considerable one based on what The Athletic NBA insider Jared Weiss is hearing around the league. In a new article, Weiss related that there “have been over half a dozen teams who have inquired about a potential sign-and-trade deal for Williams.”

If, as the Athletic reporter suggests, Williams’ market will be north of the projected $12.2 million full mid-level exception (MLE), only about seven teams in the league would be able to tender an offer sheet without a sign-and-trade, including the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic, two teams who have expressed interest in the Charlotte native.

Weiss importantly notes the role of the new collective bargaining agreement on Boston and whether it would make sense to pay a player roughly 10% of the cap if he were mostly coming off of the bench.

But if Williams can be assured of a larger role with the team moving forward under head coach Joe Mazzulla after sparse use late in the 2022-23 NBA season and the playoffs, a reunion certainly is not out of the question.

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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Washburn: The Boston Celtics should pursue Phoenix Suns’ Chris Paul

The decision will ultimately rest on his own shoulders if he ends up being cut by the Phoenix Suns.

Though the decision will ultimately rest on his own shoulders if he ends up being cut by the Phoenix Suns, should the Boston Celtics consider pursuing veteran Suns floor general Chris Paul? The option to trade for CP3 remains, but even if it were just for his guaranteed salary, the return from Boston would likely not be worth the exchange.

That means waiting out his situation with Phoenix would be the only realistic path forward, with the Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn making the case that the Celtics should consider such a path on a recent guest appearance on the CLNS Media “Cedric Maxwell” podcast.

“I’d go after Chris Paul; I would see what you could do,” suggested Washburn. “You need somebody who can damn run an offense; let’s be honest”.

To hear Washburn’s case in full, take a look at the clip embedded 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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Could the Grant Williams era of the Boston Celtics be coming to an end?

Recent reports hint Boston might be trying to use a sign-and-trade of the Charlotte native to improve the team.

Could the Grant Williams era for the Boston Celtics be coming to an end?

An easy-to-miss blurb in Kevin O’Connor’s latest iteration of his 2023 draft guide reported “the Celtics are exploring ways to bolster the roster, whether it’s a sign-and-trade involving Grant Williams during free agency or something consolidating their plethora of guards.”

It’s unclear whether the scoop here is just that Boston is working to upgrade their roster (we would hope so, given their designs on a title) or if O’Connor has heard the Celtics have been looking to use a Williams sign-and-trade specifically, and not just as one of the range of options available to the franchise given their current situation.

Boston is widely expected to have an active offseason as it prepares the roster for another title run — but also in the context of the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, which was created to punish extravagant spending by franchises such as the Celtics.

Whether Boston elects to use Williams in a deal to one or both ends remains to be seen, but such an option should certainly be a realistic tool if it finds the right trade target to get better, cheaper or both.

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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Report: Will Barton, Boston Celtics have mutual interest should Wizards wing be bought out

Washington, of course, would have to play ball, but if they find no suitor for Barton it might make sense for all.

Could Washington Wizards veteran Will Barton be a potential buyout candidate for the Boston Celtics? According to Keith Smith of CelticsBlog (via Heavy’s Adam Taylor), there is mutual interest in such an outcome. With Barton earning $14.3 million this season as an expiring deal, it is not out of the question that the veteran wing could be bought out by the Wiz.

Barton is having a down season in a reduced role, hitting just barely above his solid 37.4% rate from 3 from 2-point range as well. Still, a clearer if not larger role on a contending team might be a solid fit for a player who was putting up 14.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and .9 assists per game.

This outcome would of course require Washington 1) not trading Barton elsewhere and 2) actually buying out the Baltimore native’s deal.

But if no suitor for his services appears with a solid offer in hand, it certainly would make a lot of sense for all parties for such a scenario to play out.

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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Montrezl Harrell was in talks with the Celtics before signing with Sixers

Montrezl Harrell recently made his debut with the Philadelphia 76ers against the Boston Celtics. It was his first regular-season game with his new team after he signed with the team in September.

Montrezl Harrell debuted with the Philadelphia 76ers against the Boston Celtics after he signed with the Sixers in September. Harrell signing with Philly wasn’t a surefire thing, however. He seriously considered joining the Celtics before he chose the 76ers, according to new reporting from MassLive’s Brian Robb.

Harrell’s situation was complicated. He faced a cannabis charge in June and was dealing with his legal situation. Meanwhile, the Celtics were monitoring his situation and were interested in signing the veteran forward.

When asked about it, Harrell was very open about the situation saying, “We had talks … Honestly, it didn’t work out.”

He stated that philosophy as well as his role on the team was a massive reason why he didn’t sign.

“Their mindset, where they wanted me to play was not ideal. The situation I was in or going to be in wasn’t going to work out.”

Harrell would’ve been a really nice option for the Boston to have as Robert Williams III recovers from a knee injury. The Celtics are using Blake Griffin and Noah Vonleh to fill the void left by Williams and are hoping Mfiondu Kabengele grows into a backup role as well.

The question is whether the Celtics need Harrell as they started off the season with a win over other Eastern Conference favorites in the Sixers. So far the Celtics are looking like they could get out of the East again.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

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

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