NBA Trade Rumors: Boston Celtics Interested In Jeff Teague And Al Horford From Atlanta Hawks Team Looking To Sell
The NBA trade rumors are heating up as the deadline nears, with reports that the Boston Celtics are inquiring about Jeff Teague and Al Horford from an Atlanta Hawks team that is ready to sell.
The Celtics have reportedly moved in as Atlanta prepares to go into a new direction, addressing both backcourt and frontcourt needs with one move, NESN reported.
Chris Mannix of CSNNE reported that the NBA trade rumors are related to the ascension of Dennis Schroder, the 22-year-old point guard who appears ready to take over a lead role on the Atlanta Falcons. Schroder is averaging 10.7 points and 4.7 assists per game, with sources close to the Hawks organization saying the team is ready to make him the starter. That makes Teague expendable, and could help the Hawks send him off for assets to help them rebuild in the coming year.
Celtics interested in Al Horford and Jeff Teague. https://t.co/rZtGlYX7Ye pic.twitter.com/P1ven4rwsl
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) January 30, 2016
“Atlanta, I’ve been told, is ready to turn the page, to give the team to Dennis Schroeder, their young point guard, who is ready to step up and be a starter,” Mannix said. “Teague is available because Teague has some value. He has another year left on his contract, about $8 million per year, and teams across the league are looking to get him.”
Mannix added that the NBA trade rumors claim the Celtics are also interested in Horford.
“Horford, a little more difficult. It would be a gamble going after Al Horford because Al Horford is in the last year of his deal and he’s going to command a salary north of $20 million next year. But as we know and as I just said, (president of basketball operations) Danny Ainge is a gambling GM. He could make a move like that, too.”
There could be a lot of competition for Teague. He has reportedly caught the interest of a number of other teams, with the Utah Jazz also named as an interested party.
The Jazz have some assets they could use in a trade, including extra draft picks in the coming years from the Warriors and Thunder, as well as some talented young players in Trey Burke and Alec Burks, the Salt Lake Tribune noted.
If the Jazz do have designs to land Jeff Teague, they’re not tipping their hand. Utah coach Quin Snyder said his team is trying to ignore the trade rumors and just focus on their game.
“I really like our group so much,” Snyder said. “So it’s easy for me to stay focused on the present. … I’m not in that world. I’m here and watching our opponents. So I’m sure all that stuff is going on out there, I’m more concerned about the guys we have.”
Celtics interested in Al Horford and Jeff Teague. https://t.co/rZtGlYX7Ye pic.twitter.com/P1ven4rwsl
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) January 30, 2016
The New York Knicks are also rumored to be interested in Jeff Teague, as he would be an immediate upgrade over the 34-year-old Jose Calderon, their current starting point guard. The Knicks are in position to make a move up the playoff bracket with a few moves, but are also rumored to be building a stronger contender so they can compete for Kevin Durant should he opt out of his contract after this year, as is expected.
The NBA trade rumors surrounding the Boston Celtics would seem to suggest that the team is ready to make other moves on its roster. Boston has a lot of talent at the guard position, including All-Star Isaiah Thomas, so Jeff Teague would likely either serve as a backup or give the Celtics the leeway to trade off some other pieces.
[Picture by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images]
