Celtics Trade Rumors: Blake Griffin Trade Only Way Boston Celtics Part With Brooklyn Nets Pick
Celtics trade rumors give specifics about availability of the Brooklyn Nets’ first-round pick. The Boston Celtics want a Blake Griffin trade offer to even consider dealing the pick, as it will have even more value when the 2016 NBA Draft draws closer. A report from the Boston Herald states that Griffin is the only player on the trade market that could convince Celtics team president Danny Ainge to consider trading the pick. It shows what the LA Clippers could be passing up by holding on to Griffin through the NBA trade deadline.
The Boston Celtics made a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 that is about to pay off in a big way. In that deal, the Celtics traded Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry, and D.J. White to the Brooklyn Nets for Keith Bogans, MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries, Kris Joseph, Gerald Wallace, a 2014 first-round draft pick, a 2016 first-round draft pick, and a 2018 first-round draft pick. Boston also has the option to swap first-round draft picks with Brooklyn in 2017. Why has this trade become so important? Because the Brooklyn Nets are terrible.
It’s no surprise that many Boston Celtics trade rumors indicate interest from other teams in that first-round Brooklyn Nets pick. The Nets are 14-40 this season, which is tied for the third-worst record in the entire NBA. It gives the Nets a great chance to win the NBA Lottery this summer and possibly land the first overall selection in the 2016 NBA Draft. The bad news for the Nets is that the Celtics would be getting that top-tier player, which could be LSU forward Ben Simmons or Duke forward Brandon Ingram.
Danny Ainge has good reason to hold on to that first-round pick, as it will likely yield a good young player coming out of college basketball. This is why the pick has been deemed “off limits” unless it is included in a Blake Griffin trade with the LA Clippers. It means the Celtics aren’t using it to acquire Kevin Love from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Al Horford from the Atlanta Hawks, or Dwight Howard from the Houston Rockets. The Celtics could keep the pick and simply go after a big free agent during the NBA offseason.
Despite all the Boston Celtics trade rumors that have been floating around the NBA, it has never appeared that Danny Ainge is desperate to make a move. The Celtics currently hold the third-best record in the Eastern Conference at 32-23 and are looking very strong as the 2016 NBA Playoffs approach. The team has won eight of its last 10 games and has a lot of games left against weaker opponents like the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.
The 2016 NBA trade deadline will come at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 18. After that, teams will be limited to adding free agents as a way to bolster postseason rosters. There is a chance that several players could receive buyouts from their current teams and hit the open market. That might give the Celtics another chance to add some talent if the team doesn’t decide to make a trade. It’s a plan several teams are looking at, though, so there could be some competition for free agents.
While it has been made very clear that the Boston Celtics possess the assets to acquire nearly every player that has been mentioned in trade talks, it appears that Danny Ainge really only wants Blake Griffin. He may have a different plan when the NBA offseason really gets going, but fans shouldn’t be too worried about him sacrificing the future to improve for just this season. The long-term plan for Ainge is about to pay off in a big way for the Boston Celtics, and any success this season is just a bonus.
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