The Boston Celtics already are the very best team within the NBA, but they will still improve?
Boston has shown this season that it has one among, if not the very best roster in the entire NBA. When healthy, the Celtics’ starting lineup of Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, and Robert Williams will be the best in all of basketball. Plus, with the luxurious of getting the likes of Malcolm Brogdon, Derrick White, and Grant Williams coming off the bench, Boston has one among the strongest second units in all of basketball.
With the NBA Trade Deadline approaching on Feb. 9, the clock is ticking on the Celtics to make a trade in the event that they saw fit. While there still might be the buyout market after the trade deadline — which likely can be a robust option for Boston — the Celtics will need to have a look sooner quite than later in the event that they have the desire to make a trade.
Boston reportedly has been looking around and if it were to make a move, it likely can be for a wing that matches in one among the team’s expiring traded player exceptions, in accordance with CelticsBlog’s Keith Smith.
“League sources indicate the Celtics have been energetic in trade talks for players who make under $7 million for this season,” Smith said. “This means Boston has been attempting to use either their $6.9 million traded player exception (TPE) from the Juancho Hernangomez deal before it expires on January 19 or the $5.9 million TPE from the Dennis Schroder trade.”
While a deal will not be likely with such a decent window for the Celtics to take a look at, some intriguing options fit the outline that would provide Boston with some added depth.
A number of players that currently are on contracts that will fit into Boston’s TPEs are Utah Jazz forward Rudy Gay, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley, and Portland Trail Blazers forward Justice Winslow.
Gay is a 17-year NBA veteran and of this list, would make essentially the most sense. The 36-year-old is making just over $6 million this season and doesn’t play much of a task on the Jazz so he could also be available. Gay has been a solid player for a very long time and although he is not what he once was, might be a solid veteran option off the Boston bench.
Bazley is just 22 years old and averaged over double-digit points in each of the last two seasons but his scoring has dipped to five.8 points per game this season. The young forward is from Boston and is making just over $4 million this season.
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Winslow has been connected to the Celtics previously but a deal never has come to fruition. The 26-year-old is averaging 6.8 points per game this season and might be a solid backup option wing option for Boston.
Further Reading
Western Conference Rival Reportedly has Shown Trade Interest In Celtics Guard Payton Pritchard
What Would it not Cost the Celtics to Acquire Jakob Poeltl, and Should they Pay it?
Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla Opens up After Jayson Tatum’s Historic 51-Point Performance
The Top 5 Plays from Monday’s Celtics-Hornets Game
The Latest on the Celtics’ Stars’ Injuries
Knicks Reportedly Interested In Trading Wing, Should Celtics Consider Deal?
