Are the Boston Celtics about to get involved in a blockbuster trade?
Are the Boston Celtics about to get involved in a blockbuster trade?
Are the Boston Celtics about to get involved in a blockbuster trade? There are increasing rumbles loosely tying the Celtics to a number of other NBA ball clubs percolating up in the Association's media coverage in recent days, and taken by themselves, do not make all that much sense.
But with star players like Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant and Milwaukee Bucks big man Giannis Antetokounmpo both potential options to decamp to new rosters this summer, is there a deal Boston could get involved in tying into one or both such trades (or some other one we have yet to hear about) that might make all these rumors make more sense for the Celtics?
The hosts of the CLNS Media "Garden Report" podcast, Bobby Manning, Noa Dalzell, Jimmy Toscano, and John Zannis took some time on a recent episode of their show to talk it over. Check it out!
If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network: https://ytubl.ink/3Ffk
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft: Will Spurs, 76ers trade down from top 3? It's a rare move, but here's why it could make sense
Trading down from a top-3 pick is a rare move in the NBA. You almost never see it. Why would you? Rookie-scale contracts are the best deals in basketball, and the higher a team picks, the better its odds historically of landing a franchise changer. Most GMs would rather get fired swinging for a future All-Star than risk sliding down the board and watching the guy they passed on torch them for the next decade. McHale and Parish for Joe Barry Carroll. Webber for Penny. Fultz for Tatum. Luka for Trae. These are the kinds of trades that have shaped eras. Advertisement Since 1980, only 10 teams with a top-3 pick have traded down and stayed within the lottery. That's 10 out of 135 chances over 45 drafts. Here they are: 1980: Celtics traded No. 1 to Warriors Warriors picked Joe Barry Carroll Celtics moved down to third, drafted Kevin McHale, and also got Robert Parish in one of the biggest heists in NBA history 1988: Sixers traded No. 3 to Clippers Clippers picked Charles Smith Sixers moved to sixth, took Hersey Hawkins, plus a 1989 first (Kenny Payne); Payne didn't pan out, but Hawkins became an All-Star in Philly (James Pawelczyk/Yahoo Sports Illustration) 1993: Magic traded No. 1 to Warriors Warriors took Chris Webber, who left Golden State after one season Magic dropped to third, took Penny Hardaway and three future firsts, which included a pick that eventually became Vince Carter (though Orlando had already traded it away); still, Orlando won the trade considering the playoff success of Shaq and Penn 1997: Sixers traded No. 2 to Nets Nets picked Keith Van Horn, and also acquired Lucious Harris, giving them two key pieces that helped push the Nets to the Finals a few years later Sixers got the seventh pick, who ended up being Tim Thomas, plus the 21st pick (Anthony Parker), and a journeyman scorer (Jim Jackson) 2004: Clippers traded No. 2 to Bobcats Bobcats picked Emeka Okafor, who gave them the clear win in the deal Clips dropped to fourth (Shaun Livingston) and got the 33rd pick (Lionel Chalmers) 2005: Blazers traded No. 3 to Jazz Jazz took Deron Williams, landing their point guard of the decade Blazers moved to sixth (Martell Webster) and got the 27th pick (Linas Kleiza) and a future first (Joel Freeland) 2006: Bulls traded No. 2 to Blazers Blazers took LaMarcus Aldridge, winning the deal in a landslide Bulls moved to fourth and took Tyrus Thomas, plus got Viktor Khryapa, a young player at the time 2008: Wolves traded No. 3 to Grizzlies Grizzlies took O.J. Mayo Wolves moved to fifth and took Kevin Love, and got a quality role player (Mike Miller) in a huge win for the franchise The Celtics traded down to No. 3 to take Jayson Tatum. (Photo by) (Mitchell Leff via Getty Images) 2017: Celtics traded No. 1 to Sixers Sixers took Markelle Fultz, one of the biggest busts in recent league history Celtics moved to No. 3 (Jayson Tatum) and added a 2019 first (Romeo Langford) in what was a Danny Ainge masterclass 2018: Hawks traded No. 3 to Mavs Mavs took Luka Dončić, the clear best player in the trade Hawks moved to fifth and took Trae Young and 2019 first (Cam Reddish) History tells us: half the time it works, half the time it blows up a franchise. And we haven't seen a single trade down in the top 3 this decade. That might finally change in 2025. Will Spurs, Sixers trade down? The Spurs hold the second pick. The Sixers are third. San Antonio and Philly aren't shopping their picks per se, but they're listening. League sources say New Orleans (seventh) and Brooklyn (eighth) have reached out about moving up. The teams drafting fourth through sixth — the Hornets, Jazz, and Wizards, respectively — all have three top-45 picks and a stash of future ammo. They're lurking too. Even the Sixers reportedly inquired with the Spurs about swapping spots. Advertisement There's so much gossip around these picks because the two players projected to go after Cooper Flagg don't cleanly fit the Spurs or Sixers in the second and third spots. One year ago, the Spurs drafted guard Stephon Castle in the lottery. Months later, they traded for point guard De'Aaron Fox. And now they're in position to pick Rutgers point guard Dylan Harper, a 6-foot-5 freight train with a shaky jumper. That's three guards, none of whom are knockdown shooters, surrounding a generational 7-foot-5 center in Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs likely wouldn't have traded for Fox if they knew they'd end up with Harper. Now they could have three non-shooting guards and Wemby wondering if San Antonio doesn't believe in space. Where will Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey land on draft night? (Photo by) (Ed Mulholland via Getty Images) Philadelphia's problem is different. Harper's teammate Ace Bailey is a high-variance bet as a 6-8 shot-maker with tantalizing upside but little discipline, shaky playmaking, and questionable defense. The Sixers aren't in the business of developmental projects when they're trying to win with Joel Embiid right now and invest in a future that can survive without him. Bailey checks the future box, but not the present day box. Advertisement Harper actually fits better in Philly than in San Antonio, since Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain provide elite shooting in the backcourt, plus other role players can create enough space that mitigates the need for Harper to ever become a knockdown guy. And Bailey makes more sense for a team like Brooklyn or New Orleans — or any franchise that can afford to roll the dice on upside. So the question becomes: If San Antonio and Philly don't love the board, and other teams do, could we finally see a top-3 trade down? Here are four prospects who'd make the most sense if the Spurs and 76ers move back and add assets: Kon Knueppel, Duke guard: The Smartest Pick on the Board Why you take him: Knueppel's a sniper. Deep range. Quick release. Smart movement. Plus his midrange craft and interior footwork are also ahead of his years. And while he won't dunk on anyone in traffic, he carves out buckets with angles, touch, and timing. Knueppel feels like a guy who will end up playing 15 years and make everyone he shares the floor with better. Advertisement Why the Spurs would do it: A two-man game partner for Wemby. Their synergy could end up beautiful to watch. And he'd perfectly complement both Castle and Fox with his floor spacing too. Why the Sixers would do it: Knueppel could play off Embiid and Maxey and serve as a lower-usage creator for them. And he could contribute as soon as he steps on an NBA floor without the hopes of being a star because Knueppel cares about nothing more than winning games. Tre Johnson, Texas guard: The Most Dynamic Shooter Why you take him: Johnson says his favorite NBA comparison is Ray Allen, and it's easy to see why with the way he uses screens, sets his feet, and shoots flames from every spot on the floor. He is also the draft's best shooter off the dribble and has both the confidence and flair to come up big in the clutch. His college team asked him to score, not facilitate, but he showed point-guard chops in high school that could manifest for him at the next level. Advertisement Why the Spurs would do it: Fox is the tempo-setter, Castle is the connector, and Johnson could be the microwave. Imagine bringing Johnson off the bench and telling him to go get buckets. And when he'd share the floor with Wemby, he'd give him the best shooter he's ever had in his career and a proven mover without the ball who can also find him for buckets. Why the Sixers would do it: There might be too much overlap with Maxey and McCain, but we also just saw the Pacers get to the NBA Finals often with three leaner guards on the floor. More shot creation in the backcourt wouldn't hurt. VJ Edgecombe, Baylor wing: The High-Motor Wild Card Why you take him: Full-speed cuts. Violent dunks. Chase-down blocks. High-flying rebounds. That's the Edgecombe experience; he plays with a fearlessness at all times on the floor, no matter the situation. He projects as a knockdown shooter, too, after making over 40% of his 3s in high school. While playing for the Bahamas national team he also showed off point-guard skills, so even though he played a more condensed role as a Baylor freshman his on-ball flashes shouldn't be overlooked. Advertisement Why the Spurs would do it: Wemby needs both spacing and athletes flying around him. Edgecombe does both. If the Spurs want to surround their star with hungry role players who cut, defend, and shoot? VJ checks those boxes while still retaining star upside. Why the Sixers would do it: Edgecombe is such a perfect fit that he might end up the pick even if the Sixers stay put at No. 3: He would give Philly speed and physicality on the wing, and he doesn't need the offense to run through him. In the short-term, he can light a fuse for his team. In the long-term, maybe he blossoms into something special. Khaman Maluach, Duke center: The Developmental Giant Why you take him: Maluach is 7-1 with rim protection instincts and the mobility to switch. He didn't start playing basketball until he was 13, so he's raw. But he knows his role, plays hard, and dunks everything at the rim. He also has touch on layups, hook shots, and free throws, so maybe someday he'll be shooting 3s. Advertisement Why the Spurs would do it: San Antonio doesn't need another center, but that's what makes it interesting. They can develop Maluach slowly behind Wemby. And if it clicks, they walk away with a freakishly mobile backup 5 or a partner in a jumbo frontcourt. Why the Sixers would do it: The Sixers can't count on Embiid forever. Maluach is an insurance policy. But even if Embiid stays healthy from here on out, Maluach can serve as the most skilled backup center they've had in years and a worthy option for two-big lineups. It'd certainly add a new wrinkle. If Bailey's stock drops, it could end up being one of these players who ends up being the trade up target behind Harper. The worst-case scenario with these players isn't catastrophic. Maybe they don't become stars, but they still become solid role players. Knockdown shooters, guys who make the right read and care about doing the little things. They're culture guys. And if any one of them hits their top percentile outcome, then we're talking about steals. There are some alternative options too a little further down the board: Cedric Coward, Washington State wing: The Mid-Major Mystery Coward has gone from a Division III player to a projected first rounder. He defends, cuts, rebounds, swings the ball, and knocks down shots all without needing touches. And with his strength and footwork, there's some Kawhi-lite go-to scoring in there too. Coward ranks eighth on my board and second in my heart. Derik Queen, Maryland center: The Bruising Big Man Burly big with guard-like handles who dazzles with spin moves and crafty finishes. He needs to prove himself on defense, but he could be a matchup nightmare on offense since he might end up too quick for bigs and too strong for wings. Noa Essengue, Ulm forward: The French Big Swing Toolsy forward with a fluid handle, dynamic finishing package, and highly versatile defense. Playing internationally this year, he lives at the free throw line thanks to his quick first step and long strides. He's a home-run-swing pick because if the jumper someday clicks, there's major steal potential. Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina forward: The Elite Defender CMB is a defensive savant who switches 1 through 5, swipes everything, and inhales rebounds. He's a special defensive presence, and offensively he's a bulldozer finisher with a playmaking feel. Improving his jumper would move him out of tweener territory and into All-Star status. Carter Bryant, Arizona forward: The Two-Way Toolkit Rangy, athletic forward who projects as a highly versatile defender. And though he's raw as a ball-handler, he's a skilled spot-up shooter and a hyper-aware cutter. At a minimum, he has the baseline skills to be a great role player with the upside to someday be much more. Staying put vs. moving down Sometimes the scariest part isn't even the act of trading down — it's passing on the chance. In the historic 2003 draft, LeBron James went first to the Cavaliers, then the Pistons held the second pick. On the board? Darko Milicic, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade. As the story goes , Pistons GM Joe Dumars wasn't high on Melo and was deciding between Darko and Bosh. Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe, picking third, called about moving up right to the moment Detroit went on the clock. Denver wanted Darko . But Detroit stood pat, took Darko, and made one of the biggest mistakes in draft history. Had the Pistons moved down one spot, the Nuggets would have taken Darko and Detroit would've landed Bosh to extend their contending years. That one choice changed the trajectory of two franchises and an entire era. Advertisement The lesson: Sometimes staying put is just as risky as moving down. Especially in a draft where everyone agrees on Flagg at No. 1, and no one agrees on anything after. The second- and third-ranked guys vary wildly depending on which gym, spreadsheet, or group chat you're in. Some scouts rank Harper equal to Flagg, and will always remind you that if Flagg never reclassified he'd be the clear-cut top pick. Others acknowledge that fact but think the Spurs would be wise to look for a haul rather than deal with the iffy backcourt fit. Some executives think the Sixers are completely short-sighted if they pass on Bailey, and delusional about their odds of making a run with Embiid. Others say Bailey's flaws make him a player they just simply would not draft. This is where front offices get an edge, or lose their jobs. Not always by blindly sticking to the consensus, but by trusting their board, knowing their roster, and extracting value. Make the right call, and you might land the player who changes your franchise. Make the wrong one, and you're the next chapter in a cautionary tale. Advertisement The Spurs already have their generational anchor. The clock's not ticking yet, but they better not waste the silence. Whereas, the Sixers have pressure. They have Embiid in his 30s, Maxey rising, and a cap sheet that's about to get complicated. A trade down could help them stay competitive now and buy a ticket to whatever the post-Embiid future looks like. You don't get many shots at a top-3 pick. Sometimes the smartest move is realizing your guy isn't actually there.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Kevin Durant's list of desired trade destinations could push Minnesota out of the bidding
Kevin Durant's list of desired trade destinations could push Minnesota out of the bidding Reports suggested that Minnesota could have a superior Kevin Durant trade offer (relative to the Rockets), but will they actually make it? It appears they won't, if Durant doesn't want to play there. The Rockets reportedly have a 'firm offer' to trade for Suns star Kevin Durant, but Phoenix continues to be underwhelmed with Houston's valuation of the All-Star forward. There has yet to be a clear indication of what that offer specifically entails, though Rockets Wire explored the financial possibilities last week. In fact, reports have indicated that the Suns are relatively uninspired by the options involving all three of Durant's desired destinations — the Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Miami Heat. That has led to speculation that a team not on Durant's list could perhaps win the day, and take the risk that they can eventually convince him of a long-term partnership before his current contract expires in the 2026 offseason. Most notably, the team with the most buzz around that scenario seems to be the Minnesota Timberwolves. But according to The Athletic's Sam Amick, who spoke on Wednesday's podcast episode of The Athletic NBA Daily, the Timberwolves aren't bidding much (if at all) unless they get an indication that the former Most Valuable Player (MVP) and 15-time All-Star is happy to go there. 'Minnesota is not gonna play ball until they get the signal Kevin wants to play there,' Amick said. 'Tim Connelly, in particular, their GM... personality wise, he's a culture lifter. He's a guy that wants people that want to be there. That's something that matters to him. If the messaging continues that Kevin would come in while dragging his feet, then the Wolves are not going to put much on the table.' That would seemingly leave the Rockets and Heat as the only teams on both lists — that is, teams actively involved in Durant trade discussions with the Suns while also being an acceptable destination to the player. Without being on both lists, there might be other teams that explore potential parameters, but it remains to be seen if any would actually surrender significant assets if they are trading for Durant against his will. Thus, even if an offer from the Rockets or Heat is viewed by the Suns as underwhelming, it's entirely possible that it might end up being the best one they get. More: Shams: Rockets, Heat, Timberwolves leading Kevin Durant trade pursuit
Yahoo
3 hours ago
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Boston Celtics jersey history No. 21 - Gary Philips (1961-62)
The Boston Celtics have had players suiting up in a total of 68 different jersey numbers (and have three others not part of any numerical series) since their founding at the dawn of the Basketball Association of America (BAA -- the league that would become today's NBA), worn by well over 500 players in the course of Celtics history. To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Celtics Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team. Advertisement With 25 of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatest Celtics to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover. BOSTON - 1962: The World Champions of basketball Boston Celtics pose for a team portrait seated (L-R): K. C. Jones Gary Phillips, President Walter A. Brown, Head Coach Red Auerbach, Treasurer Lou Pieri, Captain Bob cousy, Sam Jones. Standing Frank Ramsey, Tom Sanders, tom Heinsohn, Bill russell Gene Guarillia, Jim Loscutoff, Carl Brown, Trainer Buddy LeRoux in Boston, Massachusetts in 1962. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright NBAE 2002 (Photo by NBAP/ NBAE/ Getty Images) And for today's article, we will continue with the sixth of nine people to wear the No. 21, Boston guard alum Gary Phillips. After ending his college career at Houston, Phillips was picked up with the ninth overall selection of the 1961 NBA draft by the Celtics. The Quincy, Illinois native would play the first season of his pro career with Boston before he was dealt to the (then) San Francisco (now, Golden State) Warriors in 1962. During his time suiting up for the Celtics, Phillips wore only jersey No. 21 and put up 4.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference. This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics jersey history No. 21 - Gary Philips (1961-62)
