The Boston Celtics are getting active early in the NBA offseason as the team is exploring any and all options to improve their roster for the 2015 season. The Celtics have all the tools needed to help shape the market in free agency with several draft picks and assets they can use to deal away. While the Celtics are getting linked to draft-day deals for a top defender, could Boston re-enter the DeMarcus Cousins race if he is truly available.
The Celtics have been linked to a trade for Cousins since last year when they were offering up Rajon Rondo in a package. However, the Sacramento Kings shot down any idea of a trade and have maintained that stance despite the rumors. However, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports is reporting that head coach George Karl is campaigning to the rest of the Kings' front office to trade Cousins prior to the NBA Draft. Wojnarowski reports that Cousins is very away that Karl wants him traded and the relationship might be so irreparable that a move is the only way to satisfy both sides.
ESPN's Marc Stein believes that if Cousins truly becomes available before the NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics will re-emerge as trade partners. The issue is that without Rajon Rondo, the Boston Celtics' trade package might not be as enticing as say the Los Angeles Lakers who are reportedly offering Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson in a deal according to Stein. The Celtics would likely offer up anyone from Gerald Wallace, Brandon Bass, Jared Sullinger to Kelly Olynyk and Isaiah Thomas if necessary. The Celtics could win the Kings over with draft picks, but they lack assets for the deal.
Could that bring back Kevin Love into the picture? According to the Boston Herald, the Celtics are not nearly as smitten with Love as they were once before. Love is expected to opt out of his contract with the Cavaliers, but it is unclear just how much he wants to test the market. According to Wojnarowski, Love is going to "look around" in free agency, but the forward has said he wants to remain in Cleveland where he can win.
The Celtics need a defender. They plan on looking into trade ups in the NBA Draft for players like Willie Cauley-Stein. However, that might not be as favorable of an option anymore. According Jonathan Givony of Draft Express, Cauley-Stein's stock is dropping due to a foot injury suffered back in 2014. The big man had a stress fracture in his ankle that had a pin inserted in it in surgery. With recent injuries to players like Joel Embiid, moving up for Cauley-Stein might not be as favorable. The Celtics could use their salary cap space to target players like Greg Monroe, Marc Gasol or Brook Lopez next.
