{"id":37799,"date":"2021-03-04T15:35:38","date_gmt":"2021-03-04T20:35:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=37799"},"modified":"2021-03-23T18:40:40","modified_gmt":"2021-03-23T22:40:40","slug":"nba-rumors-boston-celtics-go-shopping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2021\/03\/04\/nba-rumors-boston-celtics-go-shopping\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Rumors: Boston Celtics Go Shopping"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Boston Celtics\u00a0have seen the first half of their season hovering around the .500 mark, so it&#8217;s no surprise they&#8217;re scanning the trade market. With a formidable &#8220;Big 3&#8221; of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tatumja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jayson Tatum<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/brownja02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jaylen Brown<\/a><\/strong>, and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/walkeke02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kemba Walker<\/a><\/strong>, the C&#8217;s look to improve their title chances.<\/p>\n<h2>Boston Celtics Top Targets<\/h2>\n<h3>Jerami Grant<\/h3>\n<p>One of the targets the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/celtics\/\" target=\"_self\">Celtics<\/a> are eyeing is <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/grantje01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jerami Grant<\/a><\/strong>, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/author\/shams-charania\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shams Charania<\/a> of\u00a0<em>The Athletic<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Grant, who left the successful <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/nuggets\/\" target=\"_self\">Denver Nuggets<\/a> in the offseason, is having a breakout season with the Detroit Pistons. As the frontrunner to win the Most Improved Player of the Year award, he is averaging 23.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Celtics have shown interest in Jerami Grant, per <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@ShamsCharania<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xufXaN5gGV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/xufXaN5gGV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheDunkCentral\/status\/1367481739459891206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 4, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>A Jerami Grant trade would be crucial for the Celtics. However, Detroit doesn&#8217;t seem to be interested in trading Grant who has turned into a young building block for them.\u00a0Regardless, getting Grant and trying to hold onto your key pieces would be a steep price for the Celtics. The pool of draft picks the Celtics collected over the years has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/celtics\/celtics-draft-pick-reset-what-assets-do-cs-have-potential-trade\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">run out<\/a>. This would force them to potentially trade key players such as Marcus Smart\u00a0and Kemba Walker. Unless they trade some of their Big 3, it would be expensive to get Jerami Grant and difficult to outbid other teams.<\/p>\n<h3>Nikola Vucevic<\/h3>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/v\/vucevni01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">All-Star center<\/a> from the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/magic\/\" target=\"_self\">Orlando Magic<\/a> is averaging 24.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1 block per game.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Celtics are interested in Magic two-time All-Star Nikola Vucevic and Detroit&#39;s Jerami Grant, per <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@ShamsCharania<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcda: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/r1SZjfLJeV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/r1SZjfLJeV<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dU3YJsroM4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/dU3YJsroM4<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; The Athletic (@TheAthletic) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheAthletic\/status\/1367481391886311424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 4, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>However, the Celtics are not alone in their pursuit for him, as the Hornets have also expressed interest. Just like with Grant, the Celtics lack the necessary draft assets to package a better deal than the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/hornets\/\" target=\"_self\">Hornets<\/a>, unless they trade key pieces. This deal would be &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcboston.com\/news\/sports\/nbcsports\/potential-celtics-trade-targets-start-to-emerge\/2319503\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">massive<\/a>&#8221; according to\u00a0Charania if it goes through.<\/p>\n<h3>Nemanja Bjelica<\/h3>\n<p>A sleeper name the Celtics are also eyeing is Sacramento Kings <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bjeline01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Nemanja Bjelica<\/strong><\/a>. Averaging 8.3 points, Bjelica is a long-range sharpshooter that every team needs. The Celtics, however, aren&#8217;t alone in this chase as well, as they have to outbid the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/76ers\/\" target=\"_self\">Philadelphia 76ers<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/bucks\/\" target=\"_self\">Milwaukee Bucks<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/heat\/\" target=\"_self\">Miami Heat<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/warriors\/\" target=\"_self\">Golden State Warriors<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Kings forwards Harrison Barnes and Nemanja Bjelica will receive interest from suitors.<\/p>\n<p>The Sixers, Heat, Warriors, Bucks and Celtics are among the teams that have shown interest in Bjelica, per <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@ShamsCharania<\/a>: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/r1SZjfLJeV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/r1SZjfLJeV<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/I3729Yq3Ti\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/I3729Yq3Ti<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; The Athletic (@TheAthletic) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheAthletic\/status\/1367523624312258567?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 4, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Boston Celtics Trade Overview<\/h3>\n<p>All three players satisfy GM Danny Ainge&#8217;s need for &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/celticswire.usatoday.com\/lists\/nba-boston-celtics-ainge-shooting-size\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">shooting with size<\/a>&#8220;. At 6&#8217;8, Jerami Grant and Nemanja Bjelica have career marks of 35% and 39% respectively, while 6&#8217;11 Nikola Vucevic hits his at a career 35.2% clip.<\/p>\n<p>Nikola Vucevic and Jerami Grant are unlikely to be traded to the Celtics. With the Magic holding out, Vucevic will be difficult to attain without giving up too much. Grant remains a crucial cornerstone for the rebuilding Pistons franchise who would ask for a Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown swap. Somehow getting Grant\u00a0would fill the void left by Gordon Hayward&#8217;s departure in the offseason to the Hornets.<\/p>\n<p>Nemanja Bjelica is the most attainable player. With a $7.15 million salary, he could fit under their\u00a0$28.5 million <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boston.com\/sports\/boston-celtics\/2020\/12\/02\/celtics-trade-exception-rules-players-rumors\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">traded player exception<\/a> while adding a decent player. His season mark of 31% from 3-point range may not be exciting but has shot above 40% the past three seasons.<\/p>\n<p>The March 25 trade deadline is less than a month away, putting some pressure on Ainge to turn a .500 team into a bonafide title contender.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"RAUCZUqnSHR1v31Atn1Kdg\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/896398704\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'RAUCZUqnSHR1v31Atn1Kdg',sig:'SLUOg-HzFkXLFkSGHVHLDYQ6NFEtQmD3mX2j6aHaMrU=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'896398704',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Boston Celtics\u00a0have seen the first half of their season hovering around the .500 mark, so it&#8217;s no surprise they&#8217;re scanning the trade market. With a formidable &#8220;Big 3&#8221; of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kemba Walker, the C&#8217;s look to improve their title chances. Boston Celtics Top Targets Jerami Grant One of the targets [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3809,"featured_media":37821,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,5,2,62,3],"tags":[4195,1628,96,662,2234,474],"class_list":["post-37799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-celtics","category-featured","category-nba","category-news","tag-celtics-featured","tag-jerami-grant","tag-nba","tag-nba-trade-deadline","tag-nemanja-bjelica","tag-nikola-vucevic"],"modified_by":"Zach Kircher","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3809"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37799"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37799\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37821"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}