The Celtics landed Al Horford in free agency but apparently they are not done tweaking their roster. They are reportedly in the hunt for another star and are expected to be in the running for Russell Westbrook and Blake Griffin.
Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin linked to Celtics in trade rumors
The Celtics have the assets to make a big move if a star becomes available but it’s unclear if they will be willing to use them to acquire impending free agents.
Westbrook is not likely to sign an extension with the Thunder, so Oklahoma City could risk losing him for nothing next summer. Because of that, they are rumored to be open to trading him before the season. Executives around the league believe the Celtics are the most likely destination for the superstar point guard, according to Bleacher Report's Howard Beck.
Not only is Boston a potential landing spot for Westbrook but also for Blake Griffin, according to Sporting News' Sean Deveney. The Clippers are reluctant to move Griffin but a trade is still on the table and Deveney's sources indicate that a three-team deal in which Rudy Gay lands in Los Angeles is a possibility.
It seems executives around the league believe the Celtics will make a major move for a superstar. Let’s take a closer look at this rumors.
Why a big trade makes sense
There is no team with more assets to trade than the Celtics, so it's almost inevitable for them to come up in any trade rumors. They have the rights to swap picks with the Nets next season, Brooklyn's 2018 pick, their own future picks as well as several rotation-caliber players locked up in team-friendly deals. They are likely to be every front office's first call if a disgruntled star wants out.
The Celtics are also very motivated to improve, according to multiple reports from the past two years. Opposing executives believe Danny Ainge doesn’t want to part ways with the Brooklyn picks but if the right star becomes available he might go all in. The Celtics want to make the leap from playoff team to contender and now that they have Horford around along with a strong supporting cast and a great coach, they are likely a player away from becoming Cleveland’s biggest threat in the East.
Griffin and Westbrook can both become free agents next year and there’s no assurance that the Celtics will be able to re-sign them, but they are top 10 players. They are certainly worth the risk, since getting either likely means the second seed and a conference finals appearance for Boston. If that happens, it’s hard to see either player walking away. There’s danger in a trade but caution might go out the window, considering the quality of the players involved.
Why a big trade doesn’t make sense
The reason why the Celtics have a lot of assets is because they have not wasted them. They have been cautious about including those valuable Nets picks in trades and they know that they have bargains on their hands with the contracts of several players. There were rumors about a possible Jimmy Butler trade but the Celtics refused to overpay, according to the Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett. While Boston is clearly trying to make a big addition, Danny Ainge clearly doesn't want to give up too much.
The fact that Horford is on the roster could mean they want to accelerate their timeline for contention but since they have now gotten a big time free agent, they might be convinced they can lure another one. If Boston thinks it has a chance to sign Westbrook or Griffin outright next year, why lose assets trying to lure them now? The next free agency class also features other players that, while not as good as those two, could help them take a step forward. Why rush when another playoff appearance is all but guaranteed now?
While adding either superstar makes Boston a contender, not only their impending free agency but also their fit has to be a concern. With Griffin, the concern is likely his health and off-court behavior after a season in which he played only 35 games and broke his hand punching the Clippers’ equipment manager. With Westbrook, it’s the fact that he dominates the ball and could alienate teammates that have gotten used to sharing the offensive burden. If there are any issues in that one season they are guaranteed to be in Boston, it’s unlikely they re-sign.
Likelihood of happening: 3/10
While it’s completely understandable for opposing executives to speculate about the Celtics as the best landing spot for these superstars, there are no real reports of ongoing talks. In fact, Boston has not engaged the Thunder or the Clippers in a while, according to Bulpett. Right now, nothing seems imminent.
The Celtics have also been erring in the side of caution when trying to engineer trades. Suddenly putting all their chips on the table in a deal for impending free agents seems out of character.
Boston will surely sniff around looking to make a move, so expect plenty more rumors like these to come. The circumstances just are not ideal for a big trade right now. Things could change, of course, but as of now, it doesn’t seem like a big move is coming.
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