Jared Weiss: Celts Exploring Horford Trades, Looking At Other Centers

[Roy H.]

I'm not sure if this has been covered elsewhere, but...

After spending the 16th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft to acquire Al Horford in the offseason, the Boston Celtics are exploring trading him as they pursue another center, league sources told The Athletic.
Source: Jared Weiss @ The Athletic

I don't think Weiss is all that reliable at breaking news, but who knows?

[RJ87]

I'm not sure if this has been covered elsewhere, but...

After spending the 16th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft to acquire Al Horford in the offseason, the Boston Celtics are exploring trading him as they pursue another center, league sources told The Athletic.
Source: Jared Weiss @ The Athletic

I don't think Weiss is all that reliable at breaking news, but who knows?

Feels like the team really likes Rob at center, so the wording here is odd. I would think the team would be interested in adding a swing.

[PhoSita]

It seems like the goal here is cost cutting / creating flexibility, in which case it would make sense to trade Horford for a couple of expiring contracts.  Or maybe two to three guys who each individually make less money and have another year on their deal (i.e. easier to use in trades come summer).

[Atzar]

I guess I don't understand our outlook at the center position, then.  Why are we looking for another center?

Do we view Rob as a PF?  I hope not.  Or are we looking for an above average backup-type center?  Somebody who could provide some impact off the bench, and also not embarrass themselves if asked to start when Rob misses time... a Montrezl Harrell-caliber player. 

Or do we just not really believe in Rob long-term?  That would seem unlikely, given his play this season.  But either way, I'm confused by the idea that we'd be looking for help at the center position. 

[Somebody]

Our club is littered with Pitinos.

[Roy H.]

Our club is littered with Pitinos.

Can we trade a lottery pick for the next Potapenko?  It still burns me that we could have had Shaun Marion or Andre Miller.

[Somebody]

Our club is littered with Pitinos.

Can we trade a lottery pick for the next Potapenko?  It still burns me that we could have had Shaun Marion or Andre Miller.

We did trade a pick just outside of the lottery in a stacked draft (said pick has even yielded one of the best passing rookies for big men in NBA history) for a guy who we'll probably end up sending away for a Potapenko!

I am very glad that a good amount of people here have come around to my view that was formed as soon as Scroogebeck appointed Brad and approved the vibe man hiring though.

[footey]

If Draymond Green injury proves serious (calf injury linked to back issues?? yikes), I could see the Warriors having interest in Al Horford as a decent replacement.   Although I guess if you factor in how much deep they are in the tax, we would have to take back a lot of salary, which may not make sense for us unless we got a decent asset out of it.

[Celtics2021]

I like Weiss, but I've never heard him break any kind of news.  Horford might be traded for a myriad of reasons, he might not be.  Pretty much the only players Brad has said aren't being traded are the J's, so sure, I imagine the Celtics have had a phone call, but I don't think this is much of a scoop as opposed to saying something obvious, can't be disproved when it doesn't happen, and makes you look good when it does.

I don't think Horford will be traded right now.  He's not getting salary dumped, so he's only moving for one of two reasons:

1) There's a contending team out there with $20+ million of salary they want to move and a need for a big.
2) There's a high-level or even star player the Celtics need to use Horford's salary to match.

I can't think of a team that fits #1.  #2 is probably not happening because those deals tend to be rarer.  But sure, the Celtics have made calls.

[Somebody]

Our club is littered with Pitinos.

Can we trade a lottery pick for the next Potapenko?  It still burns me that we could have had Shaun Marion or Andre Miller.

We did trade a pick just outside of the lottery in a stacked draft (said pick has even yielded one of the best passing rookies for big men in NBA history) for a guy who we'll probably end up sending away for a Potapenko!

I am very glad that a good amount of people here have come around to my view that was formed as soon as Scroogebeck appointed Brad and approved the vibe man hiring though.

Source:

https://twitter.com/ny_knickspr/status/1427636510065664020?s=21

He's our Pitino of the 21st century lads

[bogg]

Splitting Horford's salary slot into a backup center and a rotation swingman/shooter makes some sense. Structure it correctly and you could use the existing TPEs to create a $27 million Al Horford TPE in the process to boot.

[Roy H.]

Splitting Horford's salary slot into a backup center and a rotation swingman/shooter makes some sense. Structure it correctly and you could use the existing TPEs to create a $27 million Al Horford TPE in the process to boot.

Grant + KO for Horford + Schroder + picks, haha

[Roy H.]

If Draymond Green injury proves serious (calf injury linked to back issues?? yikes), I could see the Warriors having interest in Al Horford as a decent replacement.   Although I guess if you factor in how much deep they are in the tax, we would have to take back a lot of salary, which may not make sense for us unless we got a decent asset out of it.

How would the Warriors match salaries?  They'd have to include Draymond, I assume.

[Atzar]

If Draymond Green injury proves serious (calf injury linked to back issues?? yikes), I could see the Warriors having interest in Al Horford as a decent replacement.   Although I guess if you factor in how much deep they are in the tax, we would have to take back a lot of salary, which may not make sense for us unless we got a decent asset out of it.

How would the Warriors match salaries?  They'd have to include Draymond, I assume.

I think acquiring Draymond is probably a nonstarter from the Warriors' perspective even if he's out for a significant period of time, but I have to admit that I would love to have him around this team as a mentor. 

[BMark]

How about using Horford and others in a trade by the deadline to acquire assets that could then be flipped for a third star in the offseason?  If Horford's base salary decreases to 14m next year, that would be his salary for matching purposes I think.