The Boston Celtics were a surprise team in the NBA this year and after making the playoffs, the team may look at a DeMarcus Cousins trade as an option along with Ty Lawson this summer and this comes as Danny Ainge may spend in free agency, with names like Greg Monroe, Marc Gasol, Kevin Love and Kawhi Leonard as potential free agent targets.
The Celtics have a young core and a strong head coach in Brad Stevens and while they are rebuilding, they are closer to competing for a title than the Lakers or Knicks. New York and Los Angeles are expected to have the most money to spend in free agency this summer and the Celtics may have to compete with them to get the players they want. According to Pro Basketball Talk, some players "may consider" the Celtics over the other franchises because of the success this season.
The Celtics added Isaiah Thomas at the trading deadline and they also have a solid core with Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart, Kelly Olynyk and Tyler Zeller. The team will be rid of Gerald Wallace and his money soon and that could lead to some major moves for Danny Ainge. According to the Boston Globe, the Celtics are expected to take a run at DeMarcus Cousins in a trade this summer with the Kings and the team also may target Ty Lawson in a deal with the Nuggets.
Pro Basketball Talk reported earlier this season that the Celtics likely "will make a run" at Marc Gasol and Greg Monroe this summer. Those two are considered to be some of the top free agents hitting the market. The team also could go after Kevin Love if he opts out with the Cavs, as they were mentioned as a team interested in the trade last summer.
According to NESN.com, Lawson is a target for the Celtics even after the team added Thomas, as the Nuggets are looking to deal the guard. Grantland's Zach Lowe writes that Lawson has gone from "untouchable" to likely traded in Denver and that the Celtics could even consider trading Thomas to get a deal done. Lawson was solid while averaging 15 points, nine rebounds and one steal this season and Thomas has a contract that could be "easy to trade", according to Lowe.
Cousins has been one of the best young players in the league over the past couple seasons and this year he really stepped up for Sacramento. The Kings have said that they are not shopping Cousins, but they could be swayed by draft picks, which Boston has in great supply. Ainge has been stockpiling those picks for years and now it may be time to use them. If the Celtics can add one free agent and either Lawson or Cousins with a trade, the team should easily compete for a division title in the weak Atlantic.
Cousins is coming off of a career year after averaging 24 points and 12 rebounds per game and that will make him a target for a number of teams. The Celtics have moves they can make and since they have a high amount of draft picks, Ainge will not feel pressure to make a trade. The team ditched Rajon Rondo this year and while they did not get as much for him as some expected, they did a good job considering how bad it went for the Mavs after picking up Rondo.
