NBA Trades and Rumors- 2022 Edition

My trade suggestion goes strictly against the idea that Boston will be looking to get under the tax. I still believe they will do that but I like to tinker with what if trades even thought the probability may be remote.

I think Jerami Grant brings more to the table than Josh Richardson. I like Josh Richardson but fact is he is simply not a better player than Jerami.

Jerami is a 6' 8" SF/PF. He plays with what I would call a deliberate style but he can score off the bounce and his length is reflected in his 1.1 blocks per game. He is the Piston's top scorer and is well on his way to recording B2B 20 PPG seasons. He has a 7' 3" wingspan!

Josh is a 6' 5" shooting guard and he is solid this year but we could use more length and Jerami gives us 2 position options at SF and PF (stretch)

Cost wise, Josh provides more value.

If you can keep Josh around AND add a player like Jerami our depth definitely is enhanced.

You have to be in the business to poach players from teams that are in a rebuilding mode. You have to be willing to use draft picks in pursuit of quality players that you do not have to develop.

dboss wrote:My trade suggestion goes strictly against the idea that Boston will be looking to get under the tax. I still believe they will do that but I like to tinker with what if trades even thought the probability may be remote.

I think Jerami Grant brings more to the table than Josh Richardson.  I like Josh Richardson but fact is he is simply not a better player than Jerami.

Jerami is a 6' 8" SF/PF.  He plays with what I would call a deliberate style but he can score off the bounce and his length is reflected in his 1.1 blocks per game.  He is the Piston's top scorer and is well on his way to recording B2B 20 PPG seasons.  He has a 7' 3" wingspan!

Josh is a 6' 5" shooting guard and he is solid this year but we could use  more length and Jerami gives us 2 position options at SF and PF (stretch)

Cost wise, Josh provides more value.  

If you can keep Josh around AND add a player like Jerami our depth definitely is enhanced.

You have to be in the business to poach players from teams that are in a rebuilding mode.  You have to be willing to use draft picks in pursuit of quality players that you do not have to develop.

dboss,

The rumors swirling around Jerami Grant is that he nixed a trade to LAL because he wants to go somewhere where he'll be a star, and that wouldn't happen in LA with LeBron and Davis and Westbrook. So, why would he want to be here when we have Tatum and Brown?

Grant's also making $20M/year. Josh alone isn't enough from a salary perspective. Josh and Romeo/Nesmith + TPE might.


Bob


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bobheckler wrote:

dboss wrote:My trade suggestion goes strictly against the idea that Boston will be looking to get under the tax. I still believe they will do that but I like to tinker with what if trades even thought the probability may be remote.

I think Jerami Grant brings more to the table than Josh Richardson.  I like Josh Richardson but fact is he is simply not a better player than Jerami.

Jerami is a 6' 8" SF/PF.  He plays with what I would call a deliberate style but he can score off the bounce and his length is reflected in his 1.1 blocks per game.  He is the Piston's top scorer and is well on his way to recording B2B 20 PPG seasons.  He has a 7' 3" wingspan!

Josh is a 6' 5" shooting guard and he is solid this year but we could use  more length and Jerami gives us 2 position options at SF and PF (stretch)

Cost wise, Josh provides more value.  

If you can keep Josh around AND add a player like Jerami our depth definitely is enhanced.

You have to be in the business to poach players from teams that are in a rebuilding mode.  You have to be willing to use draft picks in pursuit of quality players that you do not have to develop.

dboss,

The rumors swirling around Jerami Grant is that he nixed a trade to LAL because he wants to go somewhere where he'll be a star, and that wouldn't happen in LA with LeBron and Davis and Westbrook.  So, why would he want to be here when we have Tatum and Brown?

Grant's also making $20M/year.  Josh alone isn't enough from a salary perspective.  Josh and Romeo/Nesmith + TPE might.


Bob


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The numbers work.  Schroeder and Richardson for him and in a separate agreed upon move Boston uses a TPE to get a BU PG from the Pistons.

Jerami is not close to being a #1 but he can be a solid #2 or #3 guy.

I do not know anything about him nixing a trade to LAL.  I did not know he had a no trade clause in his contract.  But I can understand why he would not be a good fit in LAL.

In Boston he would be that 3rd scorer on the team unlike in LA where he would be the 4th scorer on the team.   Plus Boston is likely to return to that 3 wing lineup at some point and he would be a versatile fit.  

Of course if a guy does not want to play in Boston there would be no reason to pursue him.

Anyways all of this is nothing more and nothing less than what if GMing.

Place your bets that DS will be gone and the Celtics Owners will avoid the tax while collecting other people's money by being below the tax line.  The owners will be happy, the fans will be disappointed and the players and coach will have to deal with the season results

Word is from Denver and Detroit is that Jerami is very cognizant of how many points he scores. He wants to be the man. I like him too But that definitely wont work here.

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/02/how-celtics-trade-landscape-changes-after-blazers-clippers-five-player-deal.html



How Celtics trade landscape changes after Blazers-Clippers five-player deal



Updated: Feb. 04, 2022, 2:58 p.m. | Published: Feb. 04, 2022, 2:58 p.m.



By Brian Robb | brobb@masslive.com



Trade deadline week wheeling and dealing got off to an official start on Friday afternoon after the Blazers and Clippers agreed to a five-player deal according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com. The Clippers made meaningful upgrades in the deal, landing a pair of veterans in Robert Covington and Norm Powell from the Blazers in exchange for Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson and a 2025 second-round pick (via Detroit).


What were the motives for this deal?

The motives here appear to be relatively simple for both sides. The Clippers are a team that is firmly in win-now mode after trading away most of their draft stash to land Paul George and Kawhi Leonard a couple of summers ago. They may not be a contender this year with both of those players injured but Powell is under a long-term deal and gives them a great shooting weapon around those stars for the long term. Covington is an expiring contract but his Bird Rights will be valuable for the Clippers in a weak free agent market this offseason with most teams lacking serious cap room, which should allow him to be re-signed at a manageable price. Powell and Covington should improve the Clippers’ supporting cast in the next year or two and that’s why the Clippers were willing to swallow Powell’s pricy five-year deal.


The Blazers’ calculus here seems to be pretty financially motivated. They cut themselves out of the luxury tax by trimming a few million dollars off their 2021-22 payroll. On top of that, they rid themselves of Powell’s long-term contract which limited the team’s spending options when added onto the mammoth deals of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.

It’s likely Portland isn’t done dealing at the deadline after the serious talent downgrade but this is a sign they are looking to take a step back in the present. Bledsoe is a backup at this stage of his career and will be cut after the season. Winslow has underwhelmed with the Clippers and Johnson hasn’t done anything after being drafted in the first round last year (he’s only 19). They gain more long-term flexibility in this deal and a free look at Johnson but that’s about it. Freeing up Powell’s money to pay Anfernee Simons should hold appeal for Portland’s new front office as will with him hitting restricted free agency.


What does this deal say about the Celtics’ market?

Obviously, Powell and Covington could have been had here (Boston has a big TPE that either could have fit into) but the Celtics obviously weren’t in the market to add that much money to the payroll (and into the tax) for a slightly above .500 team. Powell and Covington are good role players but aren’t difference makers.

The good news for Boston is that if there are limited sellers on the market, their own trade pieces just got more appealing with Covington and Powell getting traded this early. Richardson is a cheaper and better defensive version of Powell (albeit a weaker shooter). Covington was garnering a lot of trade interest as well from contenders looking for some defensive help on the wing.


Will the Celtics be able to take advantage of the limited market for defensive wings by asking for a haul for Marcus Smart or Richardson? Time will tell but this is just the first of many moves that will be financially motivated in the weeks to come as teams try to dodge the tax. Look for Boston to be on that list as well, even though they were wise to do most of their work early by dealing away Juancho Hernangomez.


Bob


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I believe the Celtics will trade players to shed salaries for draft picks to build up assets that can be used in the summer in a wider, bigger deal.

112288

2022 NBA trade deadline: Latest buzz, news and reports

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33057503/2022-nba-trade-deadline-latest-buzz-news-reports

This article looks like it will post updates as we approach the NBA trade deadline.  Come back to this post periodically and use the link to see the latest news about trades. (I hope)

Feb. 10: NBA Trade Deadline (3 p.m. ET)

tick, tick, tick . . .

Latest rumor-du-jour is that Josh Richardson is NOT available.

We'll see. I'm liking Josh, I hope he sticks around, but for the right deal?


Bob


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bobheckler wrote:Latest rumor-du-jour is that Josh Richardson is NOT available.

We'll see.  I'm liking Josh, I hope he sticks around, but for the right deal?


Bob
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Bob

I saw that. The recent upswing by Boston has thrown a damp cloth over the prospect of trading Richardson and Marcus Smart.

Look for the soft landing with Schroeder heading out and the Celtics taking back a player in the $2-3 million category, keeping us below the tax line. A lot of teams that are on the tax line bubble are also looking to stay below that line.

Jaylen's All-Star snub cost him $1.5M.  That is $1.5M that is, now, not included in the Celtics' team salary.  Does that get us below the cap line; or are we in the same place we were before, we just didn't go even further over the line?


Bob


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bobheckler wrote:Jaylen's All-Star snub cost him $1.5M.  That is $1.5M that is, now, not included in the Celtics' team salary.  Does that get us below the cap line; or are we in the same place we were before, we just didn't go even further over the line?


Bob


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According to Spotrac we are around $2.78 million over that tax line but I do not know if that figure is adjusted to account for Jaylen's missed incentive. It still looks like we will be slightly above.

Jaylen has several incentives that are all likely to be missed.

2021-22: LTBE: $482,143 (65 games played) + $1,446,428 (All-Star), ULTBE: $964,286

He would need to play in 25/28 remaining games to make $482,143 and he misses the all star game, another $1,446,428 loss plus he will not be an MVP or make one of the all NBA teams, $964,286

The missed incentives can be subtracted from his salary and that will reduce our CAP figure.

Sources: Pistons among teams interested in Knicks' Mitchell Robinson ahead of NBA trade deadline


Ian Begley
Sun, February 6, 2022, 7:06 AM



If you’re looking for big-picture takeaways from the Knicks’ overtime loss to the Lakers on Saturday, start here:


MITCH THRIVING

Mitchell Robinson’s conditioning and production have been trending in the right direction of late. Entering play Saturday, Robinson was averaging 11 points and 9 rebounds in 26 minutes per game since the start of the calendar year. He appeared to be moving well again against Los Angeles. In 30 minutes, he had 11 rebounds and three steals.

Tom Thibodeau said before the game that Robinson has gotten increasingly comfortable on the defensive end.

“The rim protection is elite. Offensively, putting pressure on the rim has been really good. Finishing through contact has been really, really good. Very pleased overall with his progress and I think there’s a lot of room for growth,” the coach said. “….He’s got gifts that are special. He can cover a lot of ground, he can be out (on the perimeter) and get back (to the paint), drop with the roller (when defending the pick-and-roll), protect the rim. Change shots (at the rim); people are always looking for him (at the rim). I think he’s gaining experience now where he can see things even earlier so I think he’ll continue to grow.”

With trade deadline on Thursday, the Knicks are entering an important stretch with Robinson.

The club can offer him an extension at any time this season. If it hasn’t happened by now, it’s hard to see it happening before the Feb. 10 trade deadline.

So Robinson will enter the trade deadline as a potential unrestricted free agent this summer.

If the Knicks don’t believe they can sign him to a contract they’re comfortable with, you’d think that they would look to trade him ahead of the deadline. (New York could also execute an offseason sign-and-trade to receive compensation for losing Robinson. But those transactions are not always easy to execute).

One note worth keeping in mind with Robinson: The Detroit Pistons are among the teams who’ve had a degree of interest in the 23-year-old, per SNY sources. Robinson would fit the team’s desire to find players on the same timeline as rookie Cade Cunningham. It’s unknown if Detroit would pursue Robinson via trade or if the club would only consider him if/when he hits free agency.

But Robinson has fans in the Pistons organization.

Something worth noting as we wait to see how things play out between the Knicks and Robinson.


STAR-J?

RJ Barrett is playing at a very high level. He had 38 points, eight rebounds and five assists against Los Angeles. He also hit a three-pointer with eight seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

If the Knicks can figure out how to play with the pace and ball movement they showed in the first half on Saturday, they should win most of their final 29 games.

Even if they can’t replicate that level of perimeter shooting every night, the Knicks should be competitive if they play with a similar pace and unselfishness that they showed in the first half on Saturday.


NO CAM

Cam Reddish received a DNP on Saturday night. As noted earlier this week, the Knicks are expected to pursue trades to open a spot in the rotation for Reddish. It would surprise several teams monitoring the club ahead of the deadline if New York didn’t make a move to open time for Reddish.

Reddish has appeared in three of seven games since being cleared to play by the team, logging just 20 minutes. Most of those minutes have been in garbage time.

It would be confusing/strange if Reddish doesn’t have a spot in the rotation after the Feb. 10 deadline.


Bob
MY NOTE:  Imagine: Dolan signs Kemba, Thibs benches him.  Dolan trades for Cam Reddish, Thibs benches him.  Knicks are currently in 12th place, 2 games in the loss column behind Atlanta in 10th for a play-in spot.  If there is any light shining through here it's that the Knicks own the tie breaker with Atlanta if they can tie.  They were up by 21 last night in LA and the Lakers ended up coming back and winning.  I wonder which team will take a chance on Thibs next?


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The spotlight will shine on the Knicks GM.

They added offense over defense and then benched Kemba because he could not play defense. Now their defense is better than their offense. Thibs has not been able to find a good balance.

Top guy Randle is struggling to score and he is a turnover machine.

This team has a collection of players that do not fit together.

Their main issue is the lack of a floor general

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/report-milwaukee-bucks-chicago-bulls-180519010.html


Report: Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls have ‘offers on the table’ for Boston Celtics’ Dennis Schroder


Justin Quinn
Sun, February 6, 2022, 10:05 AM


It is starting to look like there is a healthy market for the services for Boston Celtics veteran reserve point guard Dennis Schroder after all, with new rumbles suggesting that the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls may be the teams to watch regarding retaining Schroder’s services before the Feb. 10 moratorium on trading players this season passes at 3 pm ET.


That news is coming from a new report from The Action Network’s Matt Moore, who reports that those two teams both have an unknown offer on the table for the German floor general. Interestingly, Moore not only frames this as a cost-cutting measure (not interesting and commonly reported), but also as often-rumored but yet-to-be-dealt Marcus Smart as another potential route the team could go to get under the tax.

“The other option is the annual Marcus Smart discussion that never leads to anything,” writes the TAN reporter. “They’ve looked at trading Smart a dozen times in recent years and it never materializes.”

Given Smart’s play for the Celtics of late, we think this is not the moment for trading the Flower Mound native yet again.


Bob
MY NOTE:  No specifics on the Schroder offers, so who knows?  They seem likely trading partners since they are both high quality competitors and having a point guard like Schroder, even if just for this year, might be the finishing piece.  As far as Smart goes, 100%.  Not available, if it were up to me.

4 days to go.

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TRADE!!


CAVALIERS GET
G/F CARIS LEVERT
MIAMI'S 2022 2ND ROUND PICK


PACERS GET
RICKY RUBIO
CLE'S 2022 1ST ROUND PICK
HOU'S 2022 2ND ROUND PICK
UTAH'S 2027 2ND ROUND PICK


Bob
MY NOTE:  A real first class steal for Cleveland in my opinion.  They gave up almost nothing, a player who's done for the year, not even their injured player exceptions, and got a really, really good player in LeVert.

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https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/02/boston-celtics-trade-rumors-2022-avoiding-luxury-tax-a-priority-for-team-heading-into-deadline.html



Boston Celtics trade rumors 2022: Avoiding luxury tax a ‘priority’ for team heading into deadline


Updated: Feb. 06, 2022, 10:23 p.m. | Published: Feb. 06, 2022, 10:16 p.m.


By Brian Robb | brobb@masslive.com



Boston’s front office will have at least one directive heading into the trade deadline on Thursday according to one report: Get under the luxury tax. Matt Moore of the Action Network reported on Sunday that a priority for Boston this week is getting below the $136 million luxury tax threshold.

The Celtics currently sit about $2.7 million over the tax after they traded away Juancho Hernangomez to the San Antonio Spurs last month as part of a three-team deal. However, that $2.7 million number may actually be smaller than anticipated after Jaylen Brown failed to make the All-Star game this week. The 25-year-old wing has a $1.9 million incentive for an All-Star appearance so assuming the wing is not selected as an injury replacement this week (seems unlikely), Boston will only have to clear about another $800,00 to get under the cap.


Boston has a number of different ways to do that ahead of the trade deadline. They could simply move a player or player(s) for one(s) making a lesser salary of around $1 million, enabling Boston to dip below the tax line. An even simpler path would be for Boston to move a low-cost player at the end of the team’s bench (Bruno Fernando, Enes Freedom, Bol Bol, PJ Dozier) to a team with an open roster spot with the Celtics also sending said team some cash for taking him in the deal.


MassLive analysis

The fascinating part of this situation though for Brad Stevens as he weighs his options this week is how will the team’s current hot streak (12-4 in last 16 games) factor into his motives. The Celtics could certainly look to bolster their bench depth for a playoff run this year and add some outside shooting help but achieving that goal while dipping under the luxury tax could be a challenge.

In order to achieve both goals, Boston could consider moving some of the younger talent on the team who are not in the rotation at the moment (Romeo Langford, Aaron Nesmith, Payton Pritchard). That would likely only happen if bolstering the team’s depth is as much of a priority as dodging the tax is. It remains to be seen whether the Celtics’ recent hot stretch against a weak schedule has shifted Stevens’ mind about investing in the current group as opposed to building more for a contender next season or beyond.


There’s a case to be made for selling high on some of the team’s veterans that may not be a part of this group’s long-term future as they attempt to build a strong core around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Boston has sent weeks gauging the trade value of some of those veterans but Ime Udoka has done his best to make Stevens think twice about making changes to this group as they are meshing after a subpar start to the year. Either way, moves will be made in the next week for Boston to dodge the tax but whether there are bigger objectives remains the more intriguing question.


Bob
MY NOTE: We have a 5 game winning streak. Smart has been playing some of the best ball of the season. Josh is looking like a keeper. Hell, even Al looks a little more spry. Even Schroder is saying he wants to stay here, and I don't see how that can happen without him leaving a lot of money on the table (wouldn't be the first time for him). The decisions are harder for Brad now, and that's how it's supposed to be. Ime, his coaches and the players are supposed to be playing so well the front office has to think long and carefully before trading one of them.

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https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/02/what-are-dennis-schroder-trade-offers-for-celtics-from-bulls-and-bucks.html



What are Dennis Schroder trade offers for Celtics from Bulls and Bucks?


Updated: Feb. 06, 2022, 8:47 p.m. | Published: Feb. 06, 2022, 5:25 p.m.


By Brian Robb | brobb@masslive.com



A pair of Eastern Conference contenders reportedly have their eyes on Dennis Schroder ahead of the trade deadline. Matt Moore of the Action Network reports that multiple sources inform him that the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks have deals on the table for Boston’s reserve point guard.

Schroder is making just $5.9 million this season after signing a one-year contract with Boston this offseason for the mid-level exception. He’s averaging 14.3 points and 4.4 assists for Boston in 47 games this year but he’s seen his playing time dip in the last two weeks with Marcus Smart back in the starting lineup.


MassLive analysis

It’s no secret that the Celtics have been exploring the trade value of several veterans on their roster in recent weeks but Schroder on paper seems to be one of the likeliest options to move. However, there are a couple of important things to get in mind here.


Celtics aren’t going to move Schroder just to get out of the tax

The team already dumped the salary of Juancho Hernangomez last month in a deal with the Spurs and Nuggets, bringing them within a couple of million dollars of the tax line. That number is even smaller now that Jaylen Brown failed to make the All-Star team, which means a bonus cap hit worth nearly $2 million won’t be counted against the tax, making it even easier for Boston to drop below ahead of the deadline.

There are plenty of cheap salaries on Boston’s roster (Bol Bol, PJ Dozier, Bruno Fernando) that Stevens can move in order (with cash) in order to get under the tax line without dumping Schroder. He’s a useful player off Boston’s bench so the team is not going to give him away, particularly if they are intent on staying competitive in the Eastern Conference down the stretch amid a 11-4 stretch in their last 15 games.

So if the Celtics are going to move Schroder, they will want something decent of value for him. What exactly do the Bulls and Bucks have to offer on that front?


Bucks potential offer

As a tax team, Milwaukee will need to send out at least $4.7 million in any deal for Schroder. On a roster that’s full of veterans for the defending champions, there are limited appealing options for Boston on that front that the Bucks are likely considering moving. A young guard like Donte DiVincenzo ($4.7 million) should hold appeal for Boston but the C’s would need to sweeten the pot quite a bit with draft compensation on top of Schroder for the 25-year-old sharpshooter who has struggled in his return from an ankle injury. Bobby Portis, George HIll and Grayson Allen all make around $5 million but only Hill is a name on that list that could be moved straight up for the point guard and I’m not sure how much interest C’s would have in the 35-year-old, although he is signed through next season and Stevens has always been a big fan.


Elsewhere on the roster? A bunch of minimum guys are in place that won’t move the needle for Boston (Rodney Hood, Wesley Mathews, Semi Ojeleye) unless there is draft compensation involved from the Bucks as well. Jordan Nwora is an intriguing young piece who has played well for Bucks this year but he’s set to be a free agent at the end of the year. The Bucks do not have a first-round pick to trade for several years due to the Stepien rule.


What about the Bulls offer?

Chicago has been decimated by injuries in their backcourt in recent weeks so targeting Schroder makes plenty of sense. He played well for head coach Billy Donovan in Oklahoma City and would help keep the Bulls’ in the mix until they get healthy again. However, there’s a lack of appealing moving assets here for Boston that are likely in play for Schroder.


Troy Brown Jr. ($5.1 million) is the obvious one but he hasn’t done much of anything after four years in the league. He’s good for salary matching but that’s no real value from Boston’s standpoint. The Celtics are in all likelihood pushing for a young guard with value like Coby White ($5.8 million) but that’s not going to happen without the Celtics sweetening the pot with more talent or draft compensation on their own. Elsewhere? There are a bunch of cheap salaries (Tony Bradley, Matt Thomas, Alonzo McKinnie) that could be added up to make the money work but none of those guys have much value. Boston probably isn’t interested in doing a 3-for-1 either since they don’t have the roster spots for it without subsequent trades.

Chicago also has limited draft capital after dealing for Nikola Vucevic and DeMar DeRozan over the past year so a couple of weak second round picks is probably the best offer on the table here.


Final Thoughts

Barring more names getting involved here from both sides, it’s tough to see Stevens biting here unless the Celtics are getting plenty of second-round draft compensation as part of the deal.


Bob
MY NOTE: I saw another analysis from MassLive saying that getting under the luxury tax was a priority for Brad. Well, that probably means trading Dennis the Menace because trading Dozier for picks (or maybe even giving picks) isn't likely enough to change the math. It'd be real nice and helpful if Dennis' agent had a frank chat with Brad as to what his client is expecting in a contract next year, but I doubt that will happen before the trade deadline.


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Bob I’m thinking that already happened and DS stays

What this all comes down to is a collection of billionaire owners who are bean counters.

If you have a billion dollars and get a low 3% return on that money that amounts to $30 million.  So what are we talking about really.  These owners are more interested in piling money on top of money instead of being caretakers for a storied franchise.

This team has found its' sea legs.  I believe that they have displayed a lot of resiliency and the owners have a responsibility to make sure the roster has enough talent to compete this year in the playoffs.

The Schroder situation is confusing. I'm retired and not excited about working to understand the ins and outs of NBA contracts. But my understanding is we can't extend his one year contract to more than about 7M. While he's made statements suggesting that's not out of the question, it's hard to imagine another team wouldn't offer him much more. Maybe not the mega bucks he wanted a year ago but a lot more than 7. But if trading him really is the best way to get under the cap and maybe get something in return, does the team he goes to have the same extension restriction? That would seem to limit his marketability. And when are the salaries totaled for the cap? On 2/10? At the end of the season?

atcross,

Other teams could offer him more than us. They can use the non-taxpayers MLE (we won't) or they could be under the cap and sign him for whatever they like. The market actually is limited right now for teams that have cap space, but that could change.

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/02/boston-celtics-trade-rumors-2022-grant-williams-deal-is-a-possibility-team-is-exploring-report.html



Boston Celtics trade rumors 2022: Grant Williams deal is a ‘possibility’ team is exploring (report)


Updated: Feb. 07, 2022, 11:20 a.m. | Published: Feb. 07, 2022, 11:20 a.m.


By Brian Robb | brobb@masslive.com



Plenty of the trade rumors surrounding the Boston Celtics in the past week has involved veteran names like Marcus Smart and Dennis Schroder. However, Jackie MacMullan indicates on the latest edition of the Bill Simmons Podcast that a top young reserve for Boston could be on the market as well in Grant Williams.

“The one thing I’ve heard that I don’t like is the possibility of (the Celtics) moving Grant Williams,” MacMullan said. “I think Grant Williams has had a really good year. He’s four inches too short but he’s the only guy who is hitting 3s for you. You better get a shooter back if you are going to trade Grant Williams.”


Williams has started 13 of 50 games he’s played in this year for Boston and has been a bright spot off the bench after an underwhelming sophomore season. He’s averaging career-highs nearly across the board 7.3 points and 3.3 points per game while shooing a team-best 42.8 percent from 3-point range. He’s also on his rookie deal for two more seasons, earning $2.6 minion this year and $4.3 million in 2022-23.


MassLive analysis

By exploring moving the 6-foot-6 forward, Brad Stevens and Boston’s front office would certainly be looking at selling high with the 23-year-old. Williams has surprisingly developed into one of the most consistent 3-point shooters in the NBA among bigs, a far cry from his rookie season when he shot just 25 percent from 3-point range.

The appeal for Williams around the league is quite simple. To begin, he’s a low salary with team control for another year, which would allow him to slot in almost any trade without issue. For contenders that are well into the luxury tax or trying to avoid it altogether while improving their roster, he’s the perfect fit on that front at just over $2 million in salary this year.

The other aspect of Williams that has to hold appeal is his defensive versatility as a shooting big. The third-year forward is undersized but he can hold his own against smaller players in switches and that’s proven invaluable at times in his career. Teams have been daring him to shoot from deep throughout his career but he’s reached a level of consistency now where he is started to be counted on reliable outlet option on the perimeter.


The Celtics know all this and value him but there is some question in the organization whether he could be an important trade chip to help bring in a stronger fit next to Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Williams is eligible for an extension this summer and if the team isn’t willing to pay up for the undersized big, this year’s trade deadline is probably the team’s best opportunity to find maximum value for him.

All this comes with a backdrop of the Celtics going 12-4 in the team’s last 16 games with Williams serving as the team’s only reliable reserve big throughout that stretch. Any move of Williams would either be a part of a segment of deals (in order to find his replacement) or perhaps a sign the present is less of a priority for this group.

The Celtics have three trade exceptions left to use so there will be limited concern in salary matching in any potential deals with Williams due to his low salary. The prospect of staying under the luxury tax could come into play but other salaries on the roster could be moved to offset that.


MassLive reported several weeks ago that the Celtics were evaluating moving all aspects of the roster outside of Brown, Tatum and Robert Williams and this is another sign that possibility remains in play.


Bob
MY NOTE: Even one year ago Grant was a player you couldn't give away. Now there's legit interest around the league in one of the top 3pt shooters in the league. Just goes to show what a high BBIQ and hard work can do for you. In Grant's case it isn't his physical gifts, he's too short and too slow, but his BBIQ has helped him become an above average, and very versatile defender.


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Atcross

If we keep him then we would need to move someone to get us under the tax.

We could move one of  PJ Dozier, Bol Bol, Freedom or Fernando.  That would take us below the tax and also set us up to have the full MLE next season  (estimated at $10,095 million)  A team can sign a player for up to a 4 year deal with annual increases of 5%

However I think we would be hard capped and given the team's flexibility needs during the offseason, a parting of ways seems imminent at the end of the season but not necessarily at the trade deadline.

Keeping Schroeder beyond this season seems highly unlikely.  

We have (2)  pretty sizeable TPE's to use during the off season

Trade Exception $9,720,900
($9,720,900) Tristan Thompson trade with SAC 07/07/2022

Trade Exception $17,142,857
($17,142,857) Evan Fournier trade with NYK 08/17/2022

So going into the off season we have assets that can be used to improve the team including all of our 1st round picks.

PP does not look quite ready to replace DS this year as our BU PG.  Therefore I would keep Schroeder since it looks like we are in the mix for a playoff spot.

2/7/22 update:

6:35 a.m. ET: Four weeks ago, on Jan. 11, Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey reached out to Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks to inquire about James Harden, sources told ESPN. "No," Marks responded. This exchange represents the single, direct communication between Morey and Marks this season. With three days to go before the deadline, the stalemate remains: The Sixers plan to pursue Harden, while the Nets have no intention of surrendering him.


Bob


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