A look at recent trade rumors, & how they stack up with Boston's plans

All's not quiet on the trade front.

With the Thanksgiving holiday and the first month of the season behind us, and December, with its lifting of trade restrictions for many players signed over the summer upon us, we can expect moves to start soon. Also, numerous reliable sources have suggested a new NBA collective bargaining agreement may be reached either this week or next, which is likely as much an impediment to front office moves of any consequence as existing trade restrictions set to expire.

In short, the log jam is about to break free concerning trades.

Several teams around the league have been tied to trade rumors already, some based in facts, others observation, so let's take a look at what's a possibility, and what is likely hot air, with an eye to Boston's needs - namely rebounding, rim protection, and of course marquee players able to push the team into legitimate contention.

Everyone on the Sacramento Kings (or so it seems) is available - Willie Cauley-Stein, Omri Casspi, Rudy Gay, maybe even DeMarcus Cousins. As much as many of us would like to see Cousins in green, that ship may have sailed if it was ever in port at all - folks as clued in as Zach Lowe feel DeMarcus is not likely to end up in Boston if he does get dealt, and I tend to agree. Gay is not a good fit for this roster (and I'm a fan), but both Cauley-Stein and Casspi make sense. I don't think they move Willie, so Omri makes the most sense, given recent developments and his contract being small, and just one year. A second round pick plus James Young or Gerald Green plus cash seems right.


New Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau has been suggested to be on the verge of dealing a younger player for a veteran, which probably has some substance to it - but who would Boston be willing to move who'd help the Wolves who'd also help Boston? This may have a grain of truth to it, but it's hard to see how it would work with Boston involved.

We previously suggested a potentially mutually beneficial Andrew Bogut trade might be had should the Dallas Mavericks keep playing poorly, and now it seems we're not alone. The Mavs' league-worst 2-13 start screams "blow it up", and with Bogut well on to the wrong side of thirty, there's little reason to keep him on the books. Plus, having a one-year deal and a propensity to rebound makes him one of the best trade candidates out there for a non-marquee move. Kelly Olynyk, Jonas Jerebko, and James Young ought to be enough to get the job done.



Speaking of poorer-than-expected starts, the Washington Wizards are doing terrible so far (let's not talk about the last game against them, though), and they aren't going to fire new coach Scott Brooks if it doesn't turn around. Still, there's nobody on this team worth making an offer for save John Wall or Otto Porter, and it seems unlikely both sides would ever work out something worthwhile given how important both appear to be to Washington's future.


Another well-tread rumor is Greg Monroe from the Milwaukee Bucks to anywhere that will have him, gaining extra momentum of late based off his reduced playing time with the club. While Monroe's defense could be hidden - especially on a second unit - to make use of his rebounding and offensive skills, his player option next season could torpedo Boston's plans to chase "max" contract free agents. Monroe, though better than some assume, just isn't worth the risk to the chase for Banner 18.

What about other teams with sub-.500 records?

We know, we know - Nerlens Noel or Jahlil Okafor may be available. Neither is likely to move with what the Celts would part with for what would give the second unit a boost, but not warrant either's likely asking price. Neither are an especially good fit for longer-term plans either - pass.



Some teams are waiting - or seem to be - until closer to the trade deadline in February. The Suns' Ryan McDonough recently suggested the Suns were doing as much, and the New Orleans Pelicans probably want a few weeks to see how Jrue Holiday's return affects their play. The Indiana Pacers and Denver Nuggets haven't been tied to any prominent rumors, but also have few players that fit Boston's summer free agency plans. Kenneth Faried is intriguing and affordable, but unlikely to draw interest with several more years on his deal.

One has to imagine the Brooklyn Nets would be averse to more deals with the Celts, but even if not, they similarly have no players in a range and skillset useful to Boston. The situations with the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic are not that different concerning the "needed skills/contract cost and length" considerations being equally a poor match with the Celtics, though Serge Ibaka might be able to be pried free. Still, the asking price would likely be beyond what Boston would want to offer given the chances he might walk after just a partial season.

Finally, any rumors you hear about arguably the most talented team in the league - recently also the team with the best record, wellll...I wouldn't take them too seriously, you know? They don't make a lot of sense, even if we wish they did.

For more stories about trade rumors on Celticslife, click here. For more by Justin, click here.





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