It’s Big 2 or else for Ainge
With less than 24 hours until the NBA’s 3 p.m. trade deadline today, the Celtics were said to be still holding out hope that internal discussions within the Bulls and Pacers would lead to one or both making their best player available.
But short of that, the view from around the league is that the Celts are becoming more and more enamored with the idea of keeping their main assets and using the first-round draft pick they have coming from Brooklyn in June via a swap of positions. (They also have the Nets’ 2018 firstrounder unencumbered.)
Sources continued to say that, while there remains a chance things could change as the deadline draws nearer, Chicago and Indiana are more likely to retain Jimmy Butler and Paul George, respectively. Those All-Star talents have been the Celtics’ two main targets, and the club will no doubt work to put together an attractive trade package if either is truly on the market.
But even here there is word that president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has been protective of a key asset.
One agent with ties to a potential deal insists that even preliminary talk between the Bulls and Celtics recently went nowhere when the C’s did not want to include this summer’s Nets choice. There is no definitive word on whether they would be willing to include it for George, though that would certainly seem likely and even a requirement from Indiana’s standpoint.
All of this could mean Ainge is posturing to drive a better bargain, or that he really does want to get a shot at some of the potentially transformative players at the top of the coming draft. Washington freshman Markelle Fultz may be the prize.
Beyond getting a primary talent that would fit more with the sustainable plan, the Celtics could also work the edges for a short-term gain. There was talk that Dallas center Andrew Bogut would be a good addition for the remainder of the season as a rental, but while he’s likely to be moved, don’t expect it to be to Boston.
If the Celts do make a move of this type, look for it to be more in the JaMychal Green or P.J. Tucker range.
All of the league talk regarding the Celtics is that, barring a star being freed, Ainge will look for a tweak or nothing at all. And the consensus tended to agree with that strategy, keeping the larger picture in mind.
Said one league general manager, “If you can’t move the needle past Cleveland, it doesn’t mean anything. And that’s not even getting to what’s out west.” The idea is the requirement for making a bigger trade is that it would have to at the very least give you a serious chance to get past the Cavaliers this season. But from the way Ainge seems to be dealing with the rest of the league, it’s perhaps even more important that he equip the Celtics for a lengthier stay among the contenders.
If he keeps this year’s Nets pick — a chip on which the Celts will most certainly have the opportunity to entertain bids prior to the draft — it will be interesting to see how the club’s currency is valued going forward.
The C’s still will have the 2018 Brooklyn pick, which is looking like another lottery ticket. But what about the players Ainge has amassed?
Some will no doubt be gone if the Celtics use the pick and welcome in one or both of the first-rounders they kept overseas this year (Ante Zizic, Guerschon Yabusele). Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley seem to be the most enticing at present, at least in part because of their favorable contracts.
As for the others, there seems to be divergent opinion. A number of teams are speaking very highly of Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown, and one key league evaluator was asking questions about Kelly Olynyk.
“I was having my doubts, but that guy can play,” he said. “He really has a good sense for the game, and it seems like when he wants to he can shoot.”
On the other hand, one general manager said the younger Celts will have a growing exposure problem.
“It’s just like it is with guys who stay in school for a few years,” he said. “After a while, you start looking at what they do, and you talk yourself out of them.”
But from the looks of things, Ainge may be talking himself into more youth for the Celtics.