The Celtics have reportedly explored the possibility of packaging their three first-round picks (Nos. 14, 26, and 30) to move into the middle of the draft lottery. On Thursday, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer suggested that Boston’s intent with that plan may be to flip the newly-acquired mid-lottery pick to New Orleans in a deal for Jrue Holiday.
However, Sean Deveney of Heavy.com hears that the Celtics also have their eye on a potential target in the top 10. Sources tell Deveney that Boston has been “enamored with” Auburn forward Isaac Okoro all year and that he would be the target if the team trades up. The C’s would also be happy to see who falls to them at their current spot, Deveney adds.
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- Clarifying some comments he made recently to a French outlet, Celtics center Vincent Poirier tells Tom Westerholm of MassLive that he wasn’t upset about his limited role in 2019/20 and knows that if he wants more minutes, he has to earn them. “I just told (head coach Brad Stevens) I accepted the role I had this year, because obviously that’s what I deserved, because I didn’t show anything,” Poirier said. “But I think I worked, I think I understand the game, so I used this season to grow and to progress. I’m just saying that was cool, but as a competitor, as a man, as a basketball player, I want more. I’m not here just to be with the guys.” Poirier has a guaranteed $2.6MM salary for 2020/21.
- Ryan Wolstat of The Toronto Sun isn’t reading too much into Fred VanVleet‘s comments about “trying to get paid” in free agency. It’s hardly breaking news that money is an important consideration for top free agents, according to Wolstat, who says he’d still bet on the Raptors re-signing their veteran point guard.
- Maryland’s Jalen Smith declined to say which teams he has worked out for, but the Nets were one of the first teams to interview him and have genuine interest in drafting him, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Smith told reporters in a conference call that if he gets an opportunity to play with Kevin Durant, it would be a “dream come true.”
Celtics 3 picks and 2022 First to Hawks for 6
Via 3rd team
Great for the Celtics…but if I am the Hawks I am not biting. I think they can’t get better value with the 6th than the bundle or a better offer.
I wonder how many trades we get on draft night?
For the C’s probably none because Danny’s to chicken sh it to do anything
Case, you’re joking right? This is the guy who tried to trade 4 firsts to move up in the draft to get winslow. The guy that traded 2 faces of the franchise for a boat load of firsts (that was a no brainer obviously), the guy who traded half the damn team for KG. The guy who had the balls to trade out of the first pick, hoping he’d still get his guy (Tatum). And that doesn’t include the boat load of smaller trades that he’s made.
If Jalen Smith is still there at 16 he’s not getting past Portland.
Holiday and Okoro – typical Danny Ainge smoke screens
All poirier had to say was “I was terrible last season im going to work my ass off so I can get minutes” PERIOD! it just looks bad when these types of players are talking about not applauding(at the end of the bench), not liking their role, telling the media that Boston isn’t his dream club(cant diss the organizationthat gave you an opportunity),etc, its just too much. You got to fake it to make it MR. Poirier.
Hear here
How about lies 24/7/52.14 no vacay
I agree with Wolstat. I mean seriously any fan is dumb enough to think that a player is only interested in winning, seriously?
As a man, as a person I know money is more important than a ring, also I have heard of many fans that think that a coach, certain teammates, a city or a culture in a team are what makes FA’s decide one place or another… but realistically I have heard no end of ex-players all saying that money trumps all those things, they never even cared who was there & what was what, money first then if the money is the same you look at other things.
So for me as a pro I can’t respect any more FVV for saying money comes first, & y’all know that I don’t like him as a player, overrated, can’t see anything special in him, so not a fan, but him saying money comes first, that is somethin’ for me to respect & perhaps start lookin’ more into him, so I might get to like him a lil’ bit more.
I hope he gets lots of $$$, that is the job & priority of a pro, winning rings is the job of FO’s not players.
Nobody said that it is wrong for these players to want their money. If a guy says he’s already content cause he already won a ring and now all wants to do is cash out. That is extremely unprofessional. If I were a GM/president that would raise some red flags.
While it’s possible he didn’t understand the optics of saying that,it does look bad. He’s a young guy and perhaps he had in mind that he wants to put pressure on the market to offer as much money as possible, wanting money without any care of the success of your teams performance because you have achieved want you wanted already is not going to inspire great confidence that you will live up to expectations of being paid handsomely.
Celtics always with quantity over quality type of s**t! They stacking up picks and besides Brown and Tatum, nothing worthy came up.
Yeah, I mean, the Celtics only got two of the best young players in the NBA,
Well, yeah, that remains to be seen! Jimmy Bucket gave them a whupping though.
You don’t think Tatum and Brown are two of the best young players in the NBA? Come on, you can admit it. It feels good to be honest.
Jaylen is a tad bit over hyped. Tatum looks like the real thing though.
Overhyped or not, Brown is still one of the best 20 players under 25 in the league no doubt.
Since 2006 the Celtics have picked top 10 all of three times and got Tatum, Brown and Smart.
Yes. People get frustrated I get it. But as I have said before if you hate danny so much who are you replacing him with that is available? Maybe he doesn’t get every single move perfect but lot of teams wish they had young talent of celtics right now. I even think they could make it without true big, just need that killer instinct. I believe in Brad…bring it out of them
The “it feels good to be honest” gets a red flag from Luckylefty2.
Knicks should trade the 8 for Boston’s 3 picks, they need as much help as possible
C’s are never going to win with Angie at the top hes helping this with their needs they need a center they have for the past 3yrs and has done nothing but Williams who is a head case and injury prone they also need bench help and all 4 picks last yr look like trash
Uhhh they dont need one that bad. They shot the ball poorly agaisnt the heat(who also doesn’t have a traditional center). They do need williams to step up though and I think they should try and sign baynes back or trade for McGhee incase they don’t think hes ready yet.
If Williams needs to step up like he never has before, plus they need a veteran there too, then yes they need a center.
Of course they do, but thats not the reason why they lost. Ppl still think in 2020 that you need a center to win a championship.
They lost because they couldn’t get rebounds on offense or defense when teams are getting 3-5 shots on offense at a time because you can’t rebound then they need a big to rebound and block shots
Sorry to break the news to you hon but teams that succeed don’t typically get a good draft position. Missing on Herro was luck of the draw. That happens and you arent writing this comment. And then I don’t have to either…so theres that
Ahh what
The C’s have had a lot of pick over the past 4-5 years now they should of used those pick as trade pieces not draft picks once they had Tatum and Brown they should’ve be building a bench and a core around them they’ve have the core now they need the bench
FVV says he’s getting paid but NBA owners are saying they aren’t spending this offseason because of covid. Lol good luck big mouth Fred…he used to be a humble guy
Where did they say this?
Celtics have hung onto Hayward too long. He plays same position as their best player. Makes no sense to me. Considering they need a PF. Bam made that very loudly clear. They could have gone for Aldridge, Love, or Turner. I guess they still could. But really have wasted two yrs. Three rookies are not going to help a young team. Best to trade up and get real help. Like Okongwu, that is who they need most. Okoro also can help. These are two players who can give them mins next yr. A stretch 4 like Love or a Center that step out like Turner. Can also help a lot. Celtics with their 4 picks. Can make moves for Okongwu and for Turner (Hayward). What are they waiting for. Their window is NOW.
If they end up keeping him then he needs to be the 6th man not in the starting lineup