The Boston Celtics have been rumored to be seeking trades for most of the offseason with over half their roster getting mentioned in potential deals. However, as the season gets ready to begin, Boston really made very few upgrades, instead collecting assets and draft picks. Things could be much different come the mid-season deadline as the Celtics will have some planning to do for the future. With Rajon Rondo the marquee free agent to keep, do the Celtics pull the trigger on a deal involving Jeff Green?
The Celtics were in the mix earlier in the offseason for Kevin Love. Several teams were tossing trade packages out to the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Celtics were one of them as they offered up Jared Sullinger and Green plus a few draft picks. The deal went unfinished and both Green and Sullinger remained on the roster. However that might not be the case for long as the Toronto Raptors might be interested in a move.
The Raptors were torched last season by Joe Johnson in the postseason last year and the team aims to avoid the same fate in the upcoming season. However, they still lack enough defensive depth on the roster to help the team make another deep run. According to Zach Lowe of Grantland, the Raptors could show interest in Green to help with the defensive effort.
The Raptors have the assets to make a deal for Green. The team appears to like the Celtics star and would be willing to give up the expiring contracts of players like Landry Fields and Chuck Hayes in return. That might be enough to win over Boston. Green has plenty of interest surrounding him right now especially with the question marks surrounding Rondo's future. If the team is going to give up Green, they likely will have high expectations for a return package that would probably need to include a first-round draft pick.
Toronto is not in desperate need of acquiring Green, but it would not hurt the depth. The Raptors re-signed Patrick Patterson in the offseason who plays a similar role to Green. However, the veteran has proven he can be a quality rotationals player and truly help on defense. If the price is right, Green could be headed up north sooner rather than later.
