Will Celtics make move to improve?
Adding another big man may be a smart decision
Will the Celtics make a deal?
Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline is fast approaching and while the firstplace Celtics don’t require a major roster shakeup, minor moves may be available 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 said 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 options to assess ahead of Thursday’s deadline. Wednesday’s injury report, with starting big men Al Horford (right knee swelling) and Robert Williams (left ankle sprain) both out against the 76ers, re-emphasized a need for a backup big man. Williams has missed a handful of games since his return from left knee surgery and the 36-year-old Horford’s workload has been managed all year, and the Celtics need both of them healthy and fresh for a long playoff run.
Luke Kornet has been productive in his role but the C’s could use some more depth in their frontcourt.
Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reported Wednesday that the Celtics are exploring the outgoing value of Payton Pritchard and Danilo Gallniari as they search the market for a backup center, with San Antonio’s Jakob Poeltl and Orlando’s Mo Bamba being two possibilities.
Stevens is likely surveying the market about Pritchard, whose role has diminished in a loaded backcourt and has been vocal about wanting a bigger role. But the depth he has provided in the face of injuries has been valuable and it’s more likely he’s moved in the offseason.
Grant Williams, too, has reportedly been the subject of trade talks. The fourthyear forward failed to reach a contract extension with the C’s before the season and is set to hit restricted free agency this summer, but it seems unlikely that Stevens would depart with a key member of their rotation.
The Celtics could be in the mix for some wing depth, too. Sam Hauser has fallen out of the rotation while his shooting slump continued and Jayson Tatum’s minutes are trending toward a career-high number while he deals with lingering injuries.
Whatever happens, though, the Celtics feel like they’re in good shape. Malcolm Brogdon boasted that he thinks the C’s are the best team in the league and the locker room doesn’t seem worried about potential moves.
“I’m one of the players, man,” Brogdon said. “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.”
Brogdon reacts to LeBron’s record
Like most of the basketball-watching world Tuesday night, Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon burned a little midnight oil to witness history.
Brogdon tuned in to watch LeBron James clinch the NBA’s career scoring record with a 38-point performance that pushed him past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time list. James hit a fadeaway jumper from the left elbow with seconds left in the third quarter of a Lakers home loss to Oklahoma City. Play stopped, the King was crowned in an oncourt ceremony, and thousands of miles across the country, Brogdon went to bed.
Hours later, during a Wednesday morning shootaround, Brogdon reflected on James’ achievement.
“Monumental moment for one of the greats,” Brogdon said. “A lot of respect to him, what he’s done over his career, his longevity. It’s just remarkable.”
Earlier this season, before a Celtics overtime win over the Lakers, Brogdon credited James for “making it cool” for players to spend money on their bodies. James’ success and longevity are unprecedented, as he continues to play at an All-NBA level in his 20th season. Brogdon, now in his seventh season at age 30, admitted Wednesday he wouldn’t make it 20 years but intends to play as long as he can.
He also recounted one of his favorite memories of playing against James. In a Dec. 2016 game against Cleveland, Brogdon, then a Bucks rookie, looked to initiate an offensive action by dishing to teammate Jabari Parker. However, Parker zipped by him, and so Brogdon took it upon himself to convert the broken play into a dunk over the greatest player of a generation.
“I think I surprised LeBron,” Brogdon said with a smile. “If he had known (I was driving), he probably wouldn’t have let me dunk it. … As a rookie, I wasn’t known for jumping. I went up and snuck one on him.”
Even after six-plus seasons in the NBA, and having earned league-wide respect, Brogdon treasures the memory because of who James is: an all-time great credited with yet an alltime record, one many believed would never be broken. And yet, there’s still plenty of basketball ahead of him.
“It sticks out in my mind because it’s LeBron. It’s everything he’s accomplished,” Brogdon said of the dunk. “What a great player, and everything he’s stood for even off the court, especially for the Black community trying to make this world a better place. So he’s a guy I have the utmost respect for.”
Injury report
Horford and Williams both tested to see if they could go Wednesday but were both ruled out about an hour before tip-off. Horford was a late addition to the injury report but interim head coach Joe Mazzulla wasn’t sure how he suffered his injury. … Blake Griffin and Grant Williams started in place of them.
Marcus Smart missed his eighth consecutive game since suffering a right ankle sprain on Jan. 21 in Toronto.