The Boston Celtics have been coy about their future plans with the roster as the season continues to be hot and cold for the team. With the Eastern Conference much more competitive than in recent years, the Celtics are having a hard time staying afloat which could be a factor in their trade deadline and free agency plans. As several teams start to take interest in Jeff Green and Jared Sullinger, will short-term moves factor into the long-term future of Rajon Rondo?
With the trade deadline in sight, the rumors are heating about which players are available and Green is one headlining the pack. Green has a player option in his contract for 2015 and many assume he is planning on opting out. That has several teams eyeing him for help. According to Grantland's Zach Lowe, the Charlotte Hornets are eyeing Green to help with perimeter shooting and defense.
The issue for Charlotte is their lack of assets to give up in order to get Green or anyone else to help out. However, NESN.com is reporting that Lance Stephenson could be on the market as he struggles with the team. Stephenson's numbers are down in a big way this season as he struggles from long range and the pick-and-roll. The Hornets have stressed that everyone on the roster can be made available outside of Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson and Stephenson would be at the top of that list.
The Celtics would certainly love to get a player like Stephenson who could likely work wonders with Rondo. Would he be enough to keep Rondo around for the long-term? The point guard is fixing to be an unrestricted free agent this upcoming summer and intends on signing with a team ready to compete for a title. According to the Boston Herald, Rondo would like to remain with the Celtics if they can upgrade the roster in the right ways. Is Stephenson a bigger roster upgrade than re-signing Green?
Head coach Brad Stevens wants upgrades in Boston. He is not thrilled with the team right now. The Celtics lost another close game to the Atlanta Hawks. They allowed the team to rally from a 23-point deficit and Stevens says that is simply because the other team wanted it more. Green led the team with 18.1 points in 34 minutes. Stevens knows this could become a habit for the Celtics if changes are not made.
"I've said this before and I believe it to be true: The game honors the more physical team," Stevens said, via ESPNBoston.com. "It does night in and night out. We've just got to improve in that area. ... It is what it is. I'm not crazy enough to think that if it doesn't change, we'll be sitting up here a lot like this."
