Celtics trade targets

A good Celtics fan friend of mine likes to talk about the five seasons: winter, spring, summer, fall, and trade season. While there’s not much else to like about February in New England, the prospect of change at the NBA’s Feb. 20 deadline for teams to make deals offers a glimmer of sunnier times ahead. This year in particular is interesting for the Celtics; in recent seasons, the deadline has been a place to make minor additions on the way to a championship run. With the team rebuilding, everyone is in play. Last week, we discussed which Celtics may be on the block. Now comes the fun part: which players, some of them big stars, would be good fits in Boston?

Gordon Hayward

Position/team: Forward, Jazz

Current contract: 2014/15: $4.67 million (qualifying offer)

Why the Celtics are a good fit: You know Celtics coach Brad Stevens would love to be reunited with his former Butler star. A scoring wing is the biggest need for the Celtics, and Hayward is one of the best. Would Utah ship him out knowing they could lose him after this season in free agency?

Dion Waiters

Position/team: Shooting guard, Cavaliers

Current contract: 2014/15: $4.06 million; 2015/16: $5.14 million (team option)

Why the Celtics are a good fit: Most reports on the dysfunctional Cavaliers have pointed a finger at Waiters as being a problematic teammate. It’s just the second NBA season for the 4th overall pick in the 2012 draft, however. Waiters has averaged 14.5 points for his career on 42 percent shooting. Those numbers aren’t great, but if Cleveland wants to get rid of him, Waiters could be a good buy-low option.

Kevin Love

Position/team: Power forward, Timberwolves

Current contract: 2014/15: $15.72 million; 2015/16: $16.74 million

Why the Celtics are a good fit: Love is the swing-for-the-fences guy for any team, an athletic big man who can shoot from the perimeter and also happens to be the best rebounder in the league. Of course the Celtics would want him, though it wouldn’t be surprising if the California boy ended up with the Lakers.

Kyrie Irving

Position/team: Point guard, Cavaliers

Current contract: 2014/15: $7.5 million; 2015/16: $9.7 million

Why the Celtics are a good fit: Since we’re swinging for the fences, why not Irving? The Cavaliers were expected to be in the Eastern Conference mix this season, but Cleveland is in total disarray and has already fired its GM. If the Cavs truly want to start over, Rajon Rondo and a first-round pick or two might be enticing.

Harrison Barnes

Position/team: Small forward, Warriors

Current contract: 2014/15: $3.05 million; 2015/16: $3.9 million (team option)

Why the Celtics are a good fit: The Warriors are rumored to be interested in Brandon Bass, according to The Sporting News. Barnes has underwhelmed in his swingman role, but could get a reprise with a Celtics team lacking at the position. Injured center Festus Ezeli also makes sense as a return piece to Boston.

Greg Monroe

Position/team: Center, Pistons

Current contract: 2014/15: $5.5 million (qualifying offer)

Why the Celtics are a good fit: Monroe would give the Celtics a big body to slot next to Jared Sullinger in the frontcourt. He’s not a perfect center, but his averages of 14.4 points and 8.8 rebounds are impressive in his fourth year.

Carmelo Anthony

Position/team: Forward, Knicks

Current contract: 2014/15: $23.5 million (player option)

Why the Celtics are a good fit: Here’s the only way Rajon Rondo goes to the Knicks. If New York is serious about moving on from Anthony or afraid he’ll walk, a package including Rondo and draft picks, which they sorely lack, might be better than anything else they’d get.

Iman Shumpert

Position/team: Guard/forward, Knicks

Current contract: 2014/15: $2.76 million; 2015/16: $3.9 million (qualifying offer)

Why the Celtics are a good fit: Anyone who watched the Knicks-Celtics series last year had to respect the way Shumpert plays the game. He’s a slightly taller Avery Bradley, an above-average defender and a decent shooter. If the Celtics plan to move on from Bradley or realize they can’t sign him, Shumpert would be a good replacement as a glue guy.

Derrick Rose

Position/team: Point guard, Bulls

Current contract: 2014/15: $18.9 million; 2015/16: $20.1 million; 2016/17: $21.3 million

Why the Celtics are a good fit: A second serious knee injury has cost Rose the season and turned the Bulls from contenders to a team in a rebuild. The Celtics have Rondo and numerous picks to offer if Chicago feels like it needs to start totally new.

DeMarcus Cousins

Position/team: Power forward, Kings

Current contract: 2014/15: $6.5 million (qualifying offer)

Why the Celtics are a good fit: Cousins was rumored to be a target of the Celtics last year, but with the emergence of Jared Sullinger, the Celtics may not be as good a landing spot now.

Danilo Gallinari

Position/team: Small forward, Nuggets

Current contract: 2014/15: $10.8 million; 2015/16: $11.6 million

Why the Celtics are a good fit: Gallinari has been cursed with bad luck on the injury front the last couple of seasons. The Celtics are in desperate need of a scoring forward. If they feel Gallinari can stay healthy, he’s worth a look.

Josh Smith

Position/team: Power forward, Pistons

Current contract: 2014/15: $14 million; 2015/16: $14 million; 2016/17: $14 million

Why the Celtics are a good fit: It hasn’t worked in Detroit for Smith in the team’s big man-heavy lineup. Rajon Rondo and Smith are close, and you have to at least be a little curious as to how the two would pair up, even with all of Smith’s baggage.

Omer Asik

Position/team: Center, Rockets

Current contract: 2014/15: $14.9 million

Why the Celtics are a good fit: The Celtics kicked the tires on Asik earlier this season before Houston pulled him off the block, but the Rockets still don’t have a place for the disgruntled center. He’d pair perfectly with Jared Sullinger in the Celtics frontcourt.

Eric Gordon

Position/team: Shooting guard, Pelicans

Current contract: 2014/15: $14.9 million; 2015/16: $15.5 million (player option)

Why the Celtics are a good fit: Gordon has underwhelmed in New Orleans, but he raised his 3-point percentage six percent from last season to this one. If he can regain his 20-points-per-game form, he fits Boston’s need as a scoring guard.

Russell Westbrook

Position/team: Point guard, Thunder

Current contract: 2014/15: $15.7 million; 2015/16: $16.7 million; 2016/17: $17.77 million

Why the Celtics are a good fit: What’s been clear in Westbrook’s absence is that Kevin Durant is really, really good at scoring when he takes more shots. These teams kicked the tires on a Rondo-for-Westbrook swap at one time, but the Celtics have picks now. Could it work this time?