The Boston Celtics want a marquee player. The team has been in rebuilding mode for the past few seasons hoping to score a big name at some point. Loaded with draft picks and trade assets, the team has the tools in place to get a deal done for someone, but so far they have been unsuccessful. Heading into the league deadline, the Celtics have been linked to some big trade deals, but nothing is expected to come of it.
Over All-Star Weekend, Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reported that the Celtics, Knicks and Cavaliers were talking a three-team trade where Cleveland gets Carmelo Anthony. Boston gets Kevin Love. New York gets draft picks and trade assets. The deal seemed questionable from the start considering the trade deadline rarely sees big names get moved.
Now, Chris Haynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that the rumor of the blockbuster deal is false. Both LeBron James and Anthony denied the idea that something that big was preparing to take place. It would not shock anyone that the Celtics were trying to get a deal of that size, but something like that is rare at the deadline.
Plenty of other trades the Celtics have been eyeing are also getting shut down. According to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, trade deals for Al Horford and Dwight Howard are also not happening. The Celtics have been linked to both players heading into the trade deadline. However, the fact that both players have expiring contracts is hurting the interest of Boston. Horford is set to hit free agency this summer while Howard has a player option he is expected to opt out of. That would leave Boston giving up a lot for players that might exit come the offseason. Team president Danny Ainge is too invested in the short-term to make that type of trade.
The Celtics would still like to make a deal. They have the right amount of players and draft picks to get some movement, but the chances they land a big name are slim. One player the Celtics would love to deal is David Lee who has not turned out to be the player the Celtics thought they were getting in the offseason. According to Mark Murphy of the Boston Globe, the Celtics are getting no interest in Lee after his falling out with the Celtics as his contract is simply too high to take on. That could leave Boston staying put at the deadline and then trying for a big move in the offseason.
