The Boston Celtics are heading into the offseason with a top 10 draft pick and chance to be in the mix for the Kevin Love trade and that means names like Rajon Rondo, Jared Sullinger, Avery Bradley, Kris Humphries, Jeff Green or Brandon Bass could get traded at the NBA draft or after the event, especially if the Celtics can find a way to get Joel Embiid if he slips following his injury.
The Celtics have been dealing with trade rumors involving Rondo since the team traded away Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce and those rumors will continue until they sign or trade the star. According to Pro Basketball Talk, Flip Saunders said that the Celtics likely have the best deal for Love, as they have number 1 draft picks they can trade and that puts them squarely in the mix for a deal with the Timberwolves. The team has a number of players they can deal for Love and some include Jared Sullinger, Avery Bradley, Kris Humphries, Jeff Green or Brandon Bass, with Bradley having to be a sign and trade since he is a free agent.
The team has a top 10 draft pick and they could get lucky with Joel Embiid, as he was once considered the top draft pick but now needs foot surgery. According to ESPN.com, Embiid could drop from the top five because of the injury, which was a similar situation that happened last season with Nerlens Noel from Kentucky. The Celtics could cash in on that if he slips and ESPN.com wrote that the team benefitted from that type of issue with Bradley as well when they drafted him in 2010 because of bone chip concerns.
Embiid will get looked at closely and now he could clip past the Cavaliers and Bucks and that could be big for other teams. Last season the Rockets went just 25-57, but they have a young core and feel like they can turn things around quickly. The Love trade could be something interesting and that likely means Rondo will be staying. Rondo could get traded if the Celtics get a good enough offer, but right now it looks like he is staying in Boston. Rondo played in 30 games last season after being injured and led the team in assists and he looks to be getting back to regular form.
Embiid could change up the entire top part of the draft and now the Sixers could be even more motivated to trade now that Embiid likely will not go number one. The team wants Andrew Wiggins and could make a move now since they are not guaranteed to get one of the top 3 if one of those players is not going in the top picks. Embiid broke his foot at the wrong time, but in a draft this deep, teams will find a way to get the players they want. The Celtics have a top 10 pick and they could be making moves this offseason. The Celtics come in after ranking 26th in the league in scoring and having Rondo back for a full season will help with that.
