Celtics trade deadline rumors: The latest on who could be coming to Boston
The trade deadline has passed, but the Celtics are expected to be players in the buyout market.
While the Celtics were considered a team to possibly make a move before Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline, Boston ended up standing pat — holding on to all their draft picks and Marcus Smart.
The team’s roster is by no means set in stone, however, as the C’s are expected to explore potential buyout options.
Here’s the latest buzz around the league:
Thursday, Feb. 8
Shortly after the trade deadline passed, the Celtics officially announced that Greg Monroe had signed a contract.
According to the team, Monroe is expected to be available to play in Thursday’s game against the Wizards and will wear No. 55 on his jersey.
It’s official! We have signed veteran center Greg Monroe.
🗒: https://t.co/j4fB2Uyjsj pic.twitter.com/vTTWFYAYuq
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 8, 2018
Boston is reportedly among the early favorites to land the recently traded Joe Johnson in the buyout market.
Joe Johnson is expected to seek–and receive–a buyout from Sacramento, per sources, and will be coveted: Golden State, Boston will be among the early favorites.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) February 8, 2018
Received text from league executive to expect an “intense” bidding war for Joe Johnson who is expected to be bought out by the Sacramento Kings, with the #Celtics one of the teams in the mix.
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) February 8, 2018
The Celtics were reportedly in trade talks for Tyreke Evans “minutes” before the trade deadline and offered two second-round picks and Guerschon Yabusele for the Memphis guard. However, no deal was ever made. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Grizzlies may re-sign Evans in the summer.
The Boston Celtics were talking to the Memphis Grizzlies about a possible Tyreke Evans deal minutes before the deadline, but it doesn’t appear they completed the trade.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 8, 2018
During the Celtics-Grizzlies talks, I’m told Boston offered two second-round picks and Guerschon Yabusele for Tyreke Evans. It doesn’t appear they agreed to terms before the deadline. https://t.co/DOUhUB9WVW
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 8, 2018
Memphis has kept guard Tyreke Evans, league sources tell ESPN.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 8, 2018
Memphis is still without traction on a Tyreke Evans trade and may keep him, league sources tell ESPN. Grizzlies would try to re-sign him using their mid-level exception this summer.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018
The trade deadline came and went at 3 p.m., and the Celtics are reportedly “standing pat.”
Sources: Boston has made no deals, standing pat at the deadline and keeping guard Marcus Smart. Celtics value Smart tremendously — showed it in talks with other teams.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2018
The Grizzlies are reportedly “still without traction” on a Tyreke Evans trade.
Memphis is still without traction on a Tyreke Evans trade and may keep him, league sources tell ESPN. Grizzlies would try to re-sign him using their mid-level exception this summer.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018
Celtics’ trade talks reportedly are currently “dead.”
One league source says in a text message that Celtics’ trade talks appear to be “dead” right now. Could always change quickly, of course.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) February 8, 2018
Marc Stein reports — “barring any more trades” — former Celtics center Kendrick Perkins is expected to take one of the Cavs’ open roster spots.
Perkins, who played seven-plus seasons in Boston, is currently a member of the Canton Charge, Cleveland’s G-League team.
The Cavs feel as though they need Kendrick Perkins’ strong locker-room presence to help them with the big adjustment period looming after today’s series of trades, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 8, 2018
The Celtics reportedly are “engaged on several fronts,” but the team is still hesitant to trade any of their first-round picks.
Celtics continue to be engaged on several fronts, but Boston remains reluctant to include a first round pick in any deal, sources told @YahooSports.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) February 8, 2018
The Cavaliers have reportedly traded Dwyane Wade to the Heat.
Miami will send a heavily protected second-round pick to Cleveland for Wade, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018
Cleveland, Sacramento, and Utah have also reportedly finalized a three-team deal that will send Joe Johnson and Iman Schumpert to the Kings, Jae Crowder and Derrick Rose to the Jazz, and George Hill and Rodney Hood to the Cavaliers.
According to Yahoo! Sports’ Shams Charania, the Jazz plan to release Rose. The New York Times‘ Marc Stein reports the Timberwolves will attempt to sign Rose if he clears waivers following his release.
Sources: Utah will release Derrick Rose, allowing him to pursue signing with a playoff team. https://t.co/a9RsM4kgTW
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2018
The Knicks reportedly inquired about Guerschon Yabusele.
Knicks also got a $1.5M trade exception in the Hernangomez deal which they can use for a player today. Sources indicate they inquired about Celtics young French power forward Guerschon Yabusele, 22.
— Marc Berman (@NYPost_Berman) February 8, 2018
Isaiah Thomas has been traded to the Lakers in a package deal for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr.
Cleveland is sending Isaiah Thomas and Channing Frye to the Lakers for Clarkson and Nance, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018
In addition to Thomas, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports Cleveland will send its 2018 protected first-round draft pick.
Three impactful details on trade for Lakers: They’ll have space for two max contract slots in 2018 or 2019, replenish first-round pick in 2018 Draft and gets Lakers some shooting for rest of season with Thomas and Frye.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018
In exchange for Tyreke Evans, Memphis reportedly is seeking a first-round pick.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the three frontrunners — including Boston — have “resisted offers beyond either a young player or a second-rounder.”
Sources: Memphis still holding out for a first-round pick to move Tyreke Evans — and Boston, Denver and Philadelphia have resisted offers beyond either a young player or a second-rounder. First-rounders have never been gripped so tightly in the league
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018
Wednesday, Feb. 7
The Thunder have reportedly expressed interest in Marcus Smart.
According to the Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, Oklahoma City has “expressed interest” in guard Marcus Smart. The Thunder, however, appear to be unable to meet the Celtics’ current asking price of a 2018 first-round draft pick.
As O’Connor explains, the earliest first-round draft pick the Thunder can offer is for 2022 because they already dealt their picks for 2018 and 2020 in previous trades.
Lou Williams has reportedly agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract extension with Clippers.
Sources: Clippers’ Lou Williams signed a three-year, $24 million extension, with $1.5M partial guarantee in year three. With this season included: four years, $31M. https://t.co/aWWHnAluQV
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 7, 2018
Lou Williams’ new three-year deal with the Clippers will include a team option on the third year, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 7, 2018
The Boston Globe‘s Adam Himmelsbach reports Williams’ new deal “doesn’t really change things for the Celtics.”
Lou Williams being off the board doesn’t really change things for the Celtics. As I reported this week sources have said he didn’t fit their plan in terms of age/defense/asset cost etc.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) February 7, 2018
“No real smoke, let alone fire” to Marcus Smart trade rumors.
Several league executives told the Boston Herald‘s Steve Bulpett no teams are interested in the Celtics’ reported asking price of a first-round draft pick for Smart. According to Bulpett, it’s “doubtful” Danny Ainge would trade the 23-year-old guard if the ultimate return is only Tyreke Evans or Lou Williams. The Celtics had reportedly been interested in trading Smart for a first-round pick, which they could then flip in package deal including Evans or Williams.
The Clippers and Lou Williams are reportedly “nearing extension.”
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst, Williams will likely be staying in Los Angeles on a new multiyear contract. The deal is expected to escalate teams’ pursuit of Tyreke Evans.
Story with @WindhorstESPN filed to ESPN: Extension discussions between guard Lou Williams and the Clippers have gathered significant momentum and a new contract is within reach before the NBA trade deadline on Thursday.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 7, 2018
Tuesday, Feb. 6
Boston continues to be “an aggressive team” 48 hours before the trade deadline.
During NBC Sports Boston’s broadcast of the Celtics-Raptors game Tuesday night, Chris Mannix reiterated the two names to keep an eye on are Los Angeles’ Lou Williams and Memphis’ Tyreke Evans.
According to Mannix, the Clippers have been telling interested teams they plan to keep Williams unless they receive a first-round pick in exchange for the guard. Mannix reports the Grizzlies also want a first-round pick for Evans, but “there’s widespread belief they’ll take the best offer on the table at the deadline when that comes around.”
Boston is reportedly on the market for “a bench scorer.”
Chris Mannix of Yahoo! Sports reports the Celtics “have canvassed the league for a bench scorer,” such as Tyreke Evans or Lou Williams, but the team is hesitant to part with their coveted first-round draft picks.
Mannix also reports the Celtics have shopped Marcus Smart, but interested teams have found their asking price of a first-round pick to be “unrealistic.”
The Celtics are reportedly among three frontrunners for Tyreke Evans:
Three frontrunners (Boston, Denver and Philadelphia) and a fourth team (Miami) staying engaged on Memphis’ Tyreke Evans, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2018
Why do the Celtics want a first-round pick for Marcus Smart? So they can flip it for Lou Williams or Tyreke Evans:
The Celtics are chasing that extra first-round pick in Marcus Smart trade talks in hopes of flipping it in a deal for either Lou Williams or Tyreke Evans, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 6, 2018
Brad Stevens says he hasn’t talked to Danny Ainge much lately:
Brad Stevens on contact with Danny Ainge with trade deadline approaching: ““I talked to him for the first time in three days today for like four minutes. And it was absolutely nothing to do with anything that anybody else would be interested in.”
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) February 6, 2018
Marcus Smart’s future in Boston remains uncertain.
According to the Boston Herald‘s Steve Bulpett, the Celtics are still “very open” to discussing trades involving Smart. Their interest in shopping the 23-year-old guard reportedly has nothing to do with his recent behavioral issues. A league source also told Bulpett: “It’s not like they’re trying to give him away. They want something back. Smart still has a lot of value for that team.”
Monday, Feb. 5
Ainge playing the wait-and-see game for Tyreke Evans and Lou Williams:The Boston Globe
‘s Adam Himmelsbach reports that the Celtics’ interest in William is “lukewarm” and that, while past reports that Ainge has long been enamored with Evans are “overblown,” the team would be interested in the Grizzlies guard “for the right price.” That said, according the Himmelsbach’s league sources, the Celtics are likely to wait for the post-deadline buyout market, rather than sacrifice assets for “what would likely be short-term gains.”
Celtics reportedly weren’t ever interested in DeAndre Jordan or Blake Griffin.
Himmelsbach also reported that Boston was never seriously interested in Jordan, who the Clippers have been shopping for more than a year, and never even discussed trading for Griffin, who was traded to the Pistons last week.
The Denver Nuggets have made Emmanuel Mudiay available for Marcus Smart, but the Celtics are reportedly holding out for a first-round draft pick:
Denver is among the teams that has explored Marcus Smart trade scenarios with Boston, according to league sources. Emmanuel Mudiay has been made available, sources say, but the Celts covet a first-round pick for Smart
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 5, 2018
Saturday, Feb. 3
Marcus Smart is reportedly available for a first-round draft pick.According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski
, the Celtics are willing to trade Smart, whose contract expires this upcoming offseason, for a first-round pick, depending on the specific deal.
Celtics are reportedly still interested in Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams and Memphis Grizzlies guard Tyreke Evans.
The Boston Herald‘s Steve Bulpett reports that the Celtics “are still in pursuit” of Williams and Evans, according to two Western Conference sources. According to Bulpett, the two volume scorers are Boston’s “main targets” in their hopes to add some bench scoring. However, Danny Ainge is reportedly “holding the line on what be believes is proper value” to the frustration of teams.
The Celtics and Greg Monroe have agreed to terms.
The Celtics have agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal with free agent Greg Monroe, but a contract still has yet to be signed.
According to multiple reports, Boston is waiting to officially sign the 6-foot-11 center in case the team needs an additional roster spot to complete another deal before Thursday’s 3 p.m. deadline.
If the Celtics were to sign Monroe and swing a trade that brings in more players than it sends out, they would then have to waive the corresponding number of players in order to keep their roster at 15. Keeping Monroe unsigned indicates to many that president of basketball operations Danny Ainge isn’t quite done making moves.
