Celtics rumor roundup: Isaiah Thomas’s hip reportedly has Cleveland weighing their options in finalizing trade
With the NBA draft over and free agency underway, the Celtics are immersed in the middle of what could be a momentous offseason. Boston has been tied to several prominent free agents. Here’s an updating list of the latest rumors:
Friday, August 25
The Cavaliers are reportedly weighing their options after evaluating Isaiah Thomas’s hip.
Thomas completed his physical in Cleveland on Friday, and questions were raised regarding the status of his previously injured hip. ESPN reports that team officials are now considering whether they would like to follow through on sending Kyrie Irving to Boston:
Sources: After Isaiah Thomas underwent physical today, Cavs still evaluating injured hip and weighing options w/ completion of Irving deal.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 26, 2017
Thomas traveled to Cleveland, took exam and flew back out of town, sources said. All players must pass physical, or a deal can be voided.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 26, 2017
As one source involved in the process involving Thomas’ medical clearance told ESPN late Friday night, “It’s a very sensitive situation.”
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 26, 2017
Sources sold the Boston Globe that re-negotiation is likely before the Isaiah Thomas-Kyrie Irving deal is officially rescinded:
Source told me this week a renegotiation attempt would be a likely option before anything was rescinded if it reached that point. https://t.co/yy0Q2CWUEI
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) August 26, 2017
Should the Cavaliers want to void the trade, they can push for the Celtics to include some additional resources in the deal. Those conversations have yet to be broached, but ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowksi speculates Cleveland will want another draft pick.
“If hypothetically, Cleveland decided to fail Thomas on the physical, and they’re not there yet,” he said on SportsCenter. “They could go back to Boston potentially and say, ‘You need to add more to this deal’ … probably in the area of draft picks.”
To Cleveland, the biggest incoming asset from the trade was reportedly the 2018 unprotected first-round draft pick.
“Here’s something to understand,” Wojnarowski said. “Cleveland most valued not Isaiah Thomas, but that 2018 first-round draft pick that Boston has from the Brooklyn Nets.”
Andrew Bogut is reportedly an option for last spot on the Celtics roster. According to The Boston Globe‘s Adam Himmelsbach, a league source said that Boston is not in any rush to add another player and may even “keep it open to maintain flexibility.”
If the Celtics are looking to make an addition, another league source told Himmelsbach that the team has been in contact with a representative for free agent Andrew Bogut. The center had previously considered signing with Boston before the February trade deadline, but he instead agreed to a deal with Cleveland.
Tuesday, August 22
According to multiple sources, the Celtics and Cavaliers have agreed to a deal involving Isaiah Thomas and Kyrie Irving:
Celtics are sending Thomas, Crowder, Ante Zizic and Brooklyn’s 2018 first-round pick for Kyrie Irving, league sources tell The Vertical. https://t.co/gdaT9UjVGl
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 22, 2017
Cavs agree to deal Kyrie Irving for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and 2018 Nets pick, source told ESPN.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) August 22, 2017
A league source confirms the Celtics have agreed to trade Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and 2018 Nets pick to Cle for Kyrie Irving.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) August 22, 2017
Boston reportedly signed Kyrie Irving in hopes of eventually re-signing him:
Irving thrilled w/ joining Celtics and they’ll have great chance to eventually re-sign him. Boston made deal with strong belief he’ll stay.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 23, 2017
Cleveland reportedly had initially tried to trade Irving to the Western Conference but had no such luck:
From @wojespn: Cleveland has struck out on deals in the western conference and have turned their focus to Boston.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) August 22, 2017
Boston and Cleveland are reportedly on the phone to work out the details of the trade:
On ESPN, @wojespn reports the Celtics and Cavs are currently on the phone working out salary matching pieces from BOS to CLE.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) August 22, 2017
Woj says the Celtics are negotiating to keep Jayson Tatum out of the deal and appease Cleveland with other pieces. https://t.co/ZjxyYWrF6Q
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) August 22, 2017
Jayson Tatum was reportedly a prerequisite for a Boston-Cleveland deal to happen “a couple of weeks ago”:
The @Cavs told @Celtics a couple weeks ago they didn’t want to do a deal if Jayson Tatum wasn’t part of the package, says league source.
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) August 22, 2017
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski offered further information on the potential deal:
Sources: Boston, Cleveland nearing deal on Kyrie Irving, but details still working to completion. Isaiah Thomas, Crowder, pick(s) in talks.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 22, 2017
Boston center Ante Zizic also expected to be part of a potential Cleveland deal for Kyrie Irving, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 22, 2017
The Celtics and Cavaliers are reportedly “engaged in active trade discussions” involving Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas:
Cleveland and Boston engaged in active trade discussions centered on Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 22, 2017
Tuesday, August 15
According to league sources, the Celtics have shown interest in acquiring Kyrie Irving from the Cavaliers but have yet to make any sort of formal offer.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the team knows Cleveland is “most intrigued” with incoming rookie Jayson Tatum, but the details of a deal have yet to be officially discussed.
Friday, July 28
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Celtics are among the several suitors interested in Kyrie Irving and are currently monitoring the situation.
It is still unclear not only how aggressive Boston will get in their pursuit of the 25-year-old All-Star, but also how willing Cleveland will be in assisting one of their biggest rivals in the East.
Monday, July 24
The Celtics have reportedly made an “obligatory call” about Kyrie Irving, according to sources.
The call simply means that the team is interested in being kept in the loop on the status of trade talks. Despite Boston’s plethora of assets, ESPN’s Zach Lowe believes that “a deal between the East’s two best teams seems unlikely.”
Friday, July 21
Kyrie Irving reportedly requested to be traded out of Cleveland:
Kyrie Irving asked the Cavs to trade him in a meeting last week, sources told ESPN. Story posting on https://t.co/b8H6X39PKb shortly
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 21, 2017
Kyrie Irving’s agent, Jeff Wechsler, tells ESPN that they had meeting w/ Cavs on Irving’s future with team and wouldn’t comment on contents. https://t.co/ix0bQrD5TJ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 21, 2017
ESPN Sources: On Kyrie Irving front, Cavs were given four preferred landing spots: New York, Miami, San Antonio, Minnesota.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 21, 2017
Thursday, July 20
Celtics reportedly agree to deal with 24-year-old Shane Larkin:
Source: Boston Celtics, Shane Larkin agree on NBA comeback deal. Widely considered best Euroleague free-agent PG with Milos Teodosic gone.
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) July 20, 2017
Euroleague star PG Shane Larkin is leaving $6.3 million on the table while betting on himself in NBA comeback deal with Boston.
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) July 20, 2017
Monday, July 17
As the Pelicans enter a “critical season,” the Celtics are reportedly keeping an eye on Anthony Davis. The Vertical’s Chris Mannix reports
that if things don’t go as planned in New Orleans, then the consensus is that Boston will “make a strong run at Davis.”
Sunday, July 9
Reports: Celtics agree to sign center Aron Baynes to one-year deal:
Free agent center Aron Baynes has reached agreement on a one-year, $4.3M deal with the Boston Celtics, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 9, 2017
Just seeing this but yeah but can confirm, as @ShamsCharania stated, the Cs have agreed to sign free agent big man Aron Baynes, per source.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) July 9, 2017
The 6-foot-10 Australian center most recently played for the Pistons and Spurs, averaging 5.2 points and 4.1 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per game.
More trades could still be coming in Boston. After trading Avery Bradley to the Detroit Pistons, Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge told the Boston Herald, “We’re not comfortable yet.”
“We do like our team, but we’re still going to search things out to see if we can find anything that makes us better this offseason,” he said.
Friday, July 7
Source says there are ‘no more’ pressing deals’ for the Celtics right now:
Cs will be looking to use mid-level exception and are always looking for trades, but there are no more pressing deals right now, source says
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) July 7, 2017
The Celtics reportedly have no plans to trade Jae Crowder:
Hearing that the Celtics have no intention of trading Jae Crowder. They’re excited about lineup possibilities.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) July 7, 2017
Avery Bradley reportedly has yet to be notified about the impending trade:
According to a friend of Bradley, he is on a flight to Seattle and hasn’t been notified of the trade yet.
— Mark Murphy (@Murf56) July 7, 2017
With the Avery Bradley trade, the Celtics no longer need to explore sign-and-trade options with the Jazz:
Yep, no need for Celtics to do sign-and-trade with Jazz now. https://t.co/xQ06WnIhcN
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) July 7, 2017
The Celtics are reportedly finalizing a trade that would send Avery Bradley to Detroit:
The Boston Celtics are finalizing a trade to send Avery Bradley to Detroit, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 7, 2017
The Pistons are sending Marcus Morris to Boston in the deal, league source tells ESPN. Lakers, Clippers were prominent in talks until end. https://t.co/hd01uMoEO7
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 7, 2017
Celtics trading Avery Bradley and a second-round pick to Detroit for Marcus Morris, source told ESPN.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) July 7, 2017
Thursday, July 6
Kelly Olynyk has agreed to a four-year deal with the Miami Heat, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski:
Free agent Kelly Olynyk has agreed to a four-year, $50M-plus deal with the Miami Heat, agent Greg Lawrence tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2017
The Olynyk deal includes a player option on the fourth-year, Lawrence said. https://t.co/wAyyX8w2CM
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2017
Olynyk tweeted two emojis shortly after the report on his deal:
😎🌴
— Kelly Olynyk (@KellyOlynyk) July 7, 2017
Should he be bought out by the Hawks, Jamal Crawford reportedly would consider the Celtics:
https://twitter.com/MikeAScotto/status/883071464060198913
