Will the Celtics make a deal?
Thursday’s 3 p.m. commerce deadline is quick approaching and whereas the first-place Celtics don’t require a significant roster shakeup, minor strikes could also be accessible for president of basketball operations Brad Stevens to bolster his squad for a championship run.
“The conversation that I’ve had, what I’ll share that I’ve had with Brad is, it’s about this year,” Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck stated in an interview with NBC Sports Boston on Jan. 28. “It’s not about this will pay dividends in three years or this will do this next year. It is this year. Muscle up and let’s go get the job done. So, that’s his instructions and that’s what we’re going to try to do. If there’s anything to do, we’ll do it. If not, we love this team. We’re top of the league right now.”
Stevens has choices to evaluate forward of Thursday’s deadline. Wednesday’s harm report, with beginning large males Al Horford (proper knee swelling) and Robert Williams (left ankle sprain) each out towards the 76ers, re-emphasized a necessity for a backup large man. Williams has missed a handful of video games since his return from left knee surgical procedure and the 36-year-old Horford’s workload has been managed all yr, and the Celtics want each of them wholesome and recent for a protracted playoff run. Luke Kornet has been productive in his position however the C’s may use some extra depth of their frontcourt.
Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reported Wednesday that the Celtics are exploring the outgoing worth of Payton Pritchard and Danilo Gallniari as they search the marketplace for a backup heart, with San Antonio’s Jakob Poeltl and Orlando’s Mo Bamba being two potentialities.
Stevens is probably going surveying the market about Pritchard, whose position has diminished in a loaded backcourt and has been vocal about wanting a much bigger position. But the depth he has offered within the face of accidents has been beneficial and it’s extra probably he’s moved within the offseason.
Grant Williams, too, has reportedly been the topic of commerce talks. The fourth-year ahead failed to achieve a contract extension with the C’s earlier than the season and is about to hit restricted free company this summer season, however it appears unlikely that Stevens would depart with a key member of their rotation.
The Celtics may very well be within the combine for some wing depth, too. Sam Hauser has fallen out of the rotation whereas his taking pictures droop continued and Jayson Tatum’s minutes are trending towards a career-high quantity whereas he offers with lingering accidents.
Whatever occurs, although, the Celtics really feel like they’re in fine condition. Malcolm Brogdon boasted that he thinks the C’s are the most effective group within the league and the locker room doesn’t appear nervous about potential strikes.
“I’m one of the players, man,” Brogdon stated. “I’m not in the front office. We leave that to Brad Stevens. He’s one of the best in the business, so we trust him in making moves or not making moves.”
Injury report
Horford and Williams each examined to see if they might go Wednesday however have been each dominated out about an hour earlier than tip-off. Horford was a late addition to the harm report however interim head coach Joe Mazzulla wasn’t positive how he suffered his harm. … Blake Griffin and Grant Williams began rather than them.
Marcus Smart missed his eighth consecutive sport since struggling a proper ankle sprain on Jan. 21 in Toronto.
Source: www.bostonherald.com