The Boston Celtics attempted to acquire Kevin Love once. Before the forward was sent to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Celtics eyed a trade in order to be able to retain Rajon Rondo. That obviously did not work out and now both Love and Rondo are not on the roster. However, as Love once again has the chance to be available this offseason, the Celtics are still considering making an offer on the forward.
According to the Akron Beacon Journal, there is a chance that Love and the Cavaliers are headed for a divorce as LeBron James continues to push for a max contract for Tristan Thompson. Love wants the same type of deal and Cleveland can only hand out one. So where does that leave the forward who can opt out of his contract and head elsewhere if he so chooses.
According to Bob Finnan of the Cleveland News-Herald, the Celtics are expected to be back in play for Love if he opts out and hits the open market. Boston is looking for size and players that can get to the rim. Isaiah Thomas told the Boston Herald that general manager Danny Ainge asked his opinion on free agents to target and he believes a defender is the team's top need at the moment. While Love's defense is questionable at times, he is the type of player that could work well for Boston.
Ainge wants to be as active as possible in free agency. That could mean several players on the roster are available at the right price. According to ESPNBoston.com, Thomas, Marcus Smart and James Young are expected to be safe, but the same cannot be said for Brandon Bass and Jared Sullinger. Those are the two assets that likely carry the most value for the Celtics and if Boston wants to trade then one of them will leave. Sullinger is very aware of the rumors.
"Right now, everyone is doubting me," Sullinger said, via ESPNBoston.com. "I get everything, 'He's not this, he's not that. He's not the guy that we thought he was going to be, potentially.' I've heard it all. I use it as motivation. Nothing is going to change [with his approach], I'm going to keep working, working as hard as possible."
The Celtics have a lot of options in front of them. The team can afford to be very active and that will start with the draft and end with big free agents. Brad Stevens has proven he can do a lot with a little which can be very attractive for players looking for a new team.
