The Boston Celtics are 12-10 and currently sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Given that only four games separate them from the No. 1-seeded team, the Philadelphia 76ers, it would made sense for Danny Ainge to launch an all-out blitz in pursuit of upgrading the roster.
As it turns out, that is precisely what he is looking to do.
According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, the Celtics are “up to something” at the moment.
“Late Saturday evening, I received a flurry of texts from multiple executives around the league who said the Celtics were up to something,” he wrote.
“What they’re up to is unclear, but league sources have long said Boston is searching for upgrades to bolster its wing and big man position.”
Upgrades at the wing and presumably the power forward slot (they couldn’t possibly be trying to dump Tristan Thompson already right?) would suggest two trades on the horizon.
What makes this report from O’Connor interesting is that it aligns well with one from last week suggesting something similar.
On Friday, it came out that Boston would potentially consider using the $28.5 million TPE acquired in the Gordon Hayward trade on one of three players.
It also fits with what Ainge said during a recent appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Toucher & Rich” show.
“I would say maybe shooting, with size,” he said, when asked what Boston was looking to add.
“There are a lot of different ways you can win in this league. We could use shooting, we could use passing. But you always need defense and our team is built on defense. We’ve been winning with defense the last few years. I know we haven’t won a championship, but we need defense.”
Ainge went to reiterate that defense was a necessary component in all this.
The Bucks owner’s daughter decided to bring 2021 in with a bang by stripping all her clothes off. https://t.co/UgzhEEna4o
— Game 7 (@game7__) January 7, 2021
“It’s hard to find a shooter that can’t guard anybody and expect that person to come in and make a major change on our team,” he said.
“We’re looking for complete players. But I think that shooting at the big position is something we haven’t had.”
The Celtics obviously have a big Hayward-shaped hole on the roster that needs to be filled, but given how injured he was for much of his run with the team, it’s hard to blame that for the mediocre play that has been on display thus far.
Yikes. Very classy. https://t.co/ddBdnksUYV
— Game 7 (@game7__) February 8, 2021
A wing would help, as would a competent four, but what Boston really needs is to simply gel better. Currently, this group is less than the sum of its parts – and it’s apparent every time they take the floor.
A few weeks back the Celtics were rumored to be one of three legitimate suitors out there for a potential J.J. Redick deal, but thus far nothing has materialized on that front.
Boston still has plenty of time to right the ship even without making any moves, but if there are two good trades out there for the organization, they should be seriously considered. The top of the East is looking pretty tough this year, and the Celtics would be best-served being over-prepared versus under-prepared heading into the postseason.
Related: 2 Teams Emerge As Clear Favorites For Kyle Lowry Trade
A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
