The Boston Celtics are poised to be active this offseason with draft picks and money to spend and the team could target a DeMarcus Cousins trade along with Ty Lawson, as they have two first round picks and a trade chip in Isaiah Thomas and this comes as Willie Cauley-Stein is a potential draft target if the team thinks about trading up.
The Celtics had a surprising season by winning 40 games and making the playoffs and now Danny Ainge is looking to make some moves to help Brad Stevens. The team brought in draft picks for Rajon Rondo from the Mavericks and they may not use those to look at trades on the main NBA market and leading into the draft. According to NESN.com and Marc Stein at ESPN, the Celtics are "expected" to make a run at trading for DeMarcus Cousins this offseason
ESPN writes that with players like Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk as trade chips along with Gerald Wallace's expiring contract, the team has the potential to make moves. The team also has the number 16 and 28 picks in the upcoming draft in the first round and that could help them pull off a deal. The Kings reportedly have no interest in trading Cousins, but there is a lot of time between now and the summer to grease the wheels on a deal.
The Kings are in a perpetual rebuild and while Cousins has proven to be a franchise player, the team could try and extract some top draft picks with his value so high. Cousins could clash with head coach George Karl and he comes in after having a career season with averages of 24 points, 12 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game for Sacramento.
According to Grantland writes Zach Lowe, the Celtics could look at Ty Lawson as a trade target, as they likely will shop Isaiah Thomas after acquiring him from the Suns this season at the trading deadline. The team tried to trade for Lawson first at the deadline and he had a solid season while averaging 15 points and nearly 10 assists per game in 75 games for the Celtics. The team has the draft picks to make deals and Thomas' contract could be attractive to some teams.
The Celtics also reportedly are interested in Willie Cauley-Stein and if they can't get things going on a trade for Cousins, they could look at moving up in the NBA draft. According to A. Sherrod Blakely at CSN New England, the team is "very open" at the idea of trading up in the draft and Cauley-Stein could be a potential target if they move into the top 10. The Knicks and some other teams could be interested in moving back in the draft after falling out of the top three in the lottery.
The Celtics could end up being major players in free agency this summer if they can't get any trades going, as they have money to spend on the cap. There is a strong class of players hitting the market this summer and Pro Basketball Talk reports that the Celtics are looking at Kevin Love as their number one target. Love obviously may not opt out of his deal in Cleveland and if that stays true, Greg Monroe and Marc Gasol could be the players Boston goes after. Monroe is coming in after a career season and many expect him to leave the Pistons.