Celtics continue to wheel and deal, and they're not done yet

Another day, another trade - and there are likely a few more just waiting on the horizon.

Tuesday night Boston sent Jameer Nelson, who was acquired in the Rajon Rondo deal in December, to Denver for Nate Robinson. The move is yet another salary-slasher - Robinson is in the final year of his contract and has reportedly been bought out by the team, while Nelson has a $2.85 player option for last season. Nelson played in just six of the Celtics' 13 games since his acquisition and has been a healthy scratch for much of the new year.

The trade was the fourth by the Celtics in 27 days, and it doesn't appear to be their last.

And a ninth trade could well be on the way soon. Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald is reporting Boston will get a second-round pick from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Austin Rivers, another piece from a recent trade that apparently will never wear a Boston uniform.

Don't forget, the Celtics still have the recently-acquired Tayshaun Prince, who will likely be moved or bought out, as well as interesting trade chips in Brandon Bass and Marcus Thornton.

All this movement leaves Boston $11.5 million below the tax line and increases their ever-growing treasure trove of future draft picks. It's also put coach Brad Stevens in a tight spot, as just six current Celtics were on the roster last April.

Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk, Jared Sullinger, Phil Pressey, Gerald Wallace and Bass are the only holdovers in that time. Everyone else has been either drafted, traded for or signed as a free agent since then.

Such roster movement is unprecedented for any NBA team outside of the 76ers and makes it tough to develop team chemistry. It's not hard to see what general manager Danny Ainge is doing - stockpiling assets and young players to either build through the draft or swing a major trade when a star becomes available, a la Houston in the now-infamous James Harden move.

It's impossible to predict the end of the story now, but don't get too comfortable with the current roster. With this Celtics team, a new day always bring the potential for another move.

Follow Dan Hoppen on Twitter @danhoppen

Photo credit: Boston Globe/Getty Images

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