The Celtics‘ recent hot streak appears to have shifted the team’s perspective heading into the trade deadline, according to Chris Mannix of SI.com, who hears from sources that Boston has gone from being a possible seller to a potential buyer.
Celtics head coach Ime Udoka likes what he has seen from his team lately and doesn’t sound particularly eager to break up the current group, but he acknowledged that Boston’s eight wins in its last nine games, including six victories in a row, may change the deadline equation for the front office — especially since the Celtics’ strong recent play may boost the trade value of some of their players.
“We’re happy with how we’re playing, happy with what the guys are doing and seeing our full group together now,” Udoka said, per Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe.“I’m sure it changed some of the [trade] conversation based on what we’re doing lately.”
Here are a few more Celtics-related notes and rumors:
- According to Mannix, Boston continues to shop Dennis Schröder in trade talks, but teams that have talked to the Celtics say they’re asking for a player and draft capital in any deal involving the guard. The C’s seem unlikely to part with Schröder unless they get a rotation player in return, says Mannix, adding that the Bucks, Cavaliers, and Mavericks remain in the mix. We wrote on Tuesday about what a Milwaukee or Cleveland deal for Schröder might look like.
- Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com has also heard that the Celtics want something of value back for Schröder and aren’t just looking for a deal that gets them under the luxury tax line. “He’s been playing well, and he’s been a good part of what they’re doing lately,” one league exec said to Bulpett. “I still think they might prefer to move him, but now they’re looking for an asset in return. They don’t feel like they HAVE to trade him now, and they’d like to turn him into an asset for next year.”
- Some people in the organization would like to keep Schröder for depth purposes, while others would be comfortable using Josh Richardson and Payton Pritchard to replace his minutes, says Bulpett. According to Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link), Boston also expects veteran point guards to be available on the buyout market, which could be an option if the team trades Schröder without receiving a point guard in return.
- Rival teams seem to enjoy talking trades with new Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens more than they did with Danny Ainge, Smith adds (via Twitter). “It’s less like you’re giving up rights to your first-born,” one opposing executive said. Another said Ainge had a tendency to try to “get blood from a stone and squeeze for ‘one more thing.'”
Mavs said they weren’t interested in Dennis and wanted smart instead
According to Brian Robb,
Lakers are shopping a package of Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn and a future first-round pick now for several weeks in hopes of landing an impact veteran and sources tell MassLive that Horton-Tucker and a future pick has been offered for Richardson. That type of package could entice Boston if they are believers in Horton-Tucker’s upside.”
According to Lakers reporters last year
Horton Tucker is the next big thing.
Which they shouldn’t be
how about schroeder for Westbrook?
There is a thing called salary for salary.. nice try but that’s laughable talent and salary wise.. Schroeder better and cheaper
Richardson’s playing pretty well. That’s a nonstarter for the Celtics. Fraid the Lakes are stuck, and what’s really funny is they’re stuck this off-season too. They’ve only got 5 players signed up for next year (two of whom have player options) and they’re already over the lux tax. Basically what they got is the buy out market and maybe one or two low-priced rotation guys for next year, depending on whether their management OK’s another huge lux tax bill.
What they really should do is trade LeBron this summer, before his final year of control (which might well be his final year, period).
I keep imagining what the Lakers roster could have been like if Dennis had accepted that extension offer. Prolly still wouldve found a way to trade the farm for Russ and be in this hell with only minimum salary players and no picks for five years lol
Nothing better as a Celtics Fan then seeing the Lakers make stupid move after stupid move to appease Queen James and flush their future down the crapper for an injury prone guy
“Queen James” has 4 championships in the same time frame that the Celtics have only 1.
They won a Championship with AD and the Celtics lost to the Heat.
So as a Celtic fan i am happy they made the dumb decision to trade for Westbrook, but reality is not favoring the comparison of Lebron and the Celtics.
I really have no idea why people hate Lebron as a bball player, the guy is a freaking machine. He does not play basketball like a “Queen,” unless you are talking about Queen Taurasi, Queen Bird, Queen Parker.
You got to know that Celtics have 15 Michael Jordan’s on the team lol
Please look at who the Celtics have beaten and how depleted some of the so called good teams have been when we played them! This is nothing to excited about! Get a new coach and reload! This team needs outside shooting!
You’re right. Celtics have only beaten depleted teams and haven’t proven themselves. We have a long way to go. But as to needing a new coach, please, let’s drop that opinion since it’s been proven so wrong. Look at the defensive stats. We have one of the best defensive teams in the league. (We’ve all heard the old truth: “Defense wins championships.”) And Coach Udoka’s insistence on starting the double big lineup, in spite of much objection, has also proven itself as has his insistence on playing the vets instead of the rookies. Celtics have a very good coach. Go Celtics!
Our Boston Celtics are FINALLY passing the ball more & thus winning but we still lack depth after our top 8, which now includes Dennis Schroeder. Romeo may be a useful 9th guy. I can’ t figure what happened to Nesmith’s 3-point shooting & Pritchard’s just too short & doesn’t have the shifty moves Dennis has.
I’m hoping for 6’7″ Sam Hauser, tall enough, to fit in next year with tough 19 year old 6’5″ off guard Juhann Begarin & maybe Yam Madar 6’3″ as our energetic back up point guard similar to Tyler Herro.
But this year it’s up to President Brad Stevens to improve our depth. Go Celtics!