The NBA trade deadline is coming up at 3 p.m. on Thursday. What could be the biggest blockbuster of the season came over the weekend when the Nets sent Kyrie Irving to the Mavericks for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and multiple draft picks.
The Celtics have yet to do anything, but the chatter around them seems to be increasing with a few reports popping up over the last few days.
We know they’ve been linked to Spurs center Jakob Poeltl for a while, and that remains one option. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reiterated the Celtics’ interest in Poeltl last week, and Brian Scalabrine said on WEEI that he would be “all-in” on such a move.
A few other names have surfaced, though. Here’s a look at some recent reports:
- The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reported on Sunday that “teams have made calls to Boston about Grant Williams.” It seems extremely unlikely that the Celtics would trade a key part of their rotation as they go for a championship unless it’s as part of a package for a significant upgrade. O’Connor notes Williams’ contract situation -- he’s a restricted free agent after the season -- as the reason teams are likely asking about him, but Brad Stevens and Co. can worry about that after the season rather than weaken their roster for what should be an all-in season.
- NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg reported on Friday night that the Celtics have “real” interest in a reunion with center Kelly Olynyk. Olynyk, of course, spent his first four seasons in Boston from 2013-17. He’s now with Danny Ainge’s Jazz, where he’s averaging 11.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 48.8% from the field and 40.4% from three. Olynyk isn’t a traditional center like Poeltl, but his ability to shoot threes and stretch the floor can give opposing defenses problems. Forsberg reports that a potential package could feature Danilo Gallinari, Payton Pritchard and Justin Jackson going the other way to make the money work. The Heat are also reportedly interested in Olynyk.
- The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III reported on Sunday that the Celtics are one of at least six teams that have called the Pistons about center Nerlens Noel. Again, this fits with everything else we’ve been hearing about the C’s looking for frontcourt help. Noel, an Everett native, would be more of a deeper-rotation option than either Poeltl or Olynyk. He has played just 13 games this season, averaging 2.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in 11.4 minutes per game. His $9.2 million salary could be a sticking point in any potential trade.
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