Boston Celtics

5 trade rumors we would like to hear about the Boston Celtics

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 12:23 a.m. ET

Fansided, Ian Levy/Fansided

It seems like the Boston Celtics are at the center of every single trade rumor. Well here are a few more we would like to hear.

Boston Celtics’ trade rumors have been sustaining the internet for going on two years. The are as ubiquitous as hot takez and way more entertaining. From Russell Westbrook to DeMarcus Cousins, Jimmy Butler to Blake Griffin, everyone has supposedly been headed to Boston. And yet, here they set mostly star-less (excepting the magical Isaiah Thomas) with a loaded war chest.

The trade deadline is Feb. 22 and chances are, you’re going to hear the Celtics mentioned about a billion times between now and then. Knowing that the rumors are going to fly, here are a few we’re hoping to hear.

5. The chase for Andrew Bogut

The Celtics have been up and down this season battling through waves of injuries. At their hypothetical best (read: healthiest) there are very few holes on the roster. The one small one, which could be important come playoff time, is interior bulk. Al Horford and Kelly Olynyk have both been very good this season but the neither excels protecting the rim or on the defensive glass. The Celtics rank dead last in the league in defensive rebound percentage and are roughly average in defensive field goal percentage in the restricted area.

That’s why it would be so fun to see the Celtics chase Andrew Bogut. Currently nursing a hamstring injury, Bogut hasn’t mean much to the Dallas Mavericks in their recent surge back into the race for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. Bogut has been an abject disaster on offense but he’s still a very good rim protector and a force on the glass. The Celtics might not need him for much, but for a few minutes a game in the playoffs he would give them a chance to tighten things up with size and defense.

Bogut’s salary is hefty but he might be had for something like Tyler Zeller and Terry Rozier. Rozier has been a nice piece this year but his role may shrink in the playoffs and with the Celtics likely having the opportunity to take a supremely talented point guard at the top of this year’s draft (with Brooklyn’s pick) Rozier could be expendable.

Jan 25, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) dribbles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at the United Center. Atlanta defeats Chicago 119-114. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

4. Get Butler to Boston

We’ve heard this one before but, frankly, we’d like to hear it again.

It seems absurd that Butler would be available on the trade market but he clearly doesn’t trust the Bulls’ front office and Chicago has been a meltdown in the chemistry department this season. It’s unlikely, but not impossible.

Butler is an elite two-way player and could really juice the Celtics rotation for premiere playoff matchups against the Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Toronto Raptors. Paired with Jae Crowder, the Celtics would have a devastating defensive combination on the wing and Butler offers Boston another perimeter playmaker to complement Isaiah Thomas.

The Bulls will likely demand a king’s ransom for Butler, but the pick swap with the Nets this year, Brooklyn’s 2018 first rounder, Avery Bradley, Jonas Jerebko, and Rozier might be enough to get it down. That empties Brooklyn’s war chest but Butler significantly increases the Celtics’ chances of winning a title right now. Forgive us, but we’re already drooling over the idea of Butler, Horford, and Isaiah, squaring off against LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving.

Jan 24, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 121-110. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

3. We want Nerlens

We know, the Philadelphia 76ers are good now. Nerlens Noel is in the rotation and playing well. If the 76ers are going to unravel that logjam in the frountcourt it’s probably going to be Jahlil Okafor they try to ship out. The problem with that logic is that the tightness in their rotation goes deeper than Okafor and Noel. Richaun Holmes has looked promising but can’t get on the floor. Dario Saric is clearly a power forward, not a wing, and Ben Simmons is returning soon as well.

Noel may be the most effective NBA player of the bunch but he also seems to be kind of a sour puss and may have burned some bridges during his time in Philly. He also doesn’t have the versatile upside of Saric or Simmons.

Boston could really use Noel’s defensive chaos, and his mobility next to Horford allows for a variety of different frontcourt combinations. Noel is also young enough that he could be a part of internal growth for the Celtics moving forward. The Celtics will have to give up something useful to pry him out of Philadelphia, but maybe sending out Marcus Smart and Jonas Jerebko in exchange for Noel and Holmes would be palatable to the 76ers. Smart helps Philly’s backcourt without locking them into anything and Boston will likely have a shot at another elite guard prospect in this year’s draft.

Feb 6, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) reacts after being called for a foul during the overtime against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center. Cleveland Cavaliers defeated Washington Wizards 140-135 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

2. Put a little Love in your heart

The Boston Celtics don’t actually need Kevin Love — he might compromise their defense slightly and they have some frontcourt shooting already. Still, he would give their offense a new dimension and, frankly, he must be tired of hearing his name in trade rumors. Sure, LeBron and Ty Lue say they’re not trading but Carmelo Anthony is a shiny jewel (for some) and these rumors aren’t going to die until the trade deadline passes. Let’s just rip the band-aid off and send Kevin Love to a team where he’ll be universally loved.

The mechanics of this are a little tricky and we have to involve the Knicks. The Cavs (like it or not) get Carmelo. The Celtics get Love. New York gets Amir Johnson, Jonas Jerebko, Marcus Smart and the Nets 2018 first round pick from Boston. This preserves the Celtics title odds this year and lets them hold onto the chance to get Markelle Fultz or someone else at the top of this year’s drafts. And they get to do a solid for one of the nicest and most unfairly criticized dudes around.

Feb 27, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) and forward DeMarre Carroll (5) and guard Kyle Korver (26) and center Al Horford (15) and guard Jeff Teague (0) pose with cheerleaders and the player of the month trophy before a game against the Orlando Magic at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

1. Get the band back together

One of the most fun things about Boston Celtics’ trade rumors is that they actually have the war chest — young talent, budding stars, oodles of draft picks — to make anything possible. If you can dream it, the Celtics have the pieces to make it happen.

This last rumor doesn’t necessarily serve the Celtics as much as it serves the greater NBA, restoring an oversight of the Basketball Gods. They 2014-15 Atlanta Hawks were beautiful, basketball the way it looks when you’ve had two glasses of red wine, you’re wearing some warm slippers, and the fire is roaring. Fuzzy, warm, and comforting. Those Hawks fell apart in the playoffs never bounced back the next season and were broken up to be sold for spare parts. I still believe that team could have worked and I’d like to see Danny Ainge balance the universe by giving them another shot.

Boston already has Horford. DeMarre Carroll, Paul Millsap, and Jeff Teague haven’t exactly been world-beaters in their new locations. So, send Avery Bradley, Tyler Zeller and one of the Nets’ picks to the Hawks, Toronto gets Amir Johnson and Jae Crowder, Indiana gets Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart. Celtics get to four of the beautiful Hawks’ starting five back together. Kyle Korver is an unrestricted free agent this summer and there’s no way he isn’t coming back to this group.

Game. Set. Match.