Celtics GM Danny Ainge has made it clear that he will explore every avenue to improve his team this summer and it sounds like he has at least one very bold idea in mind. The Celtics will be “open to putting together some type of package deal” for Blazers free agents LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews, according to A. Sherrod Blakely on CSNNE’s Celtics Talk TV (h/t Jay King of MassLive.com).
Many believed that Aldridge would wind up staying put in Portland, but speculation grew over the course of the season that he might look elsewhere. In particular, a pair of Texas teams – the Spurs and Mavericks – have been heavily connected to the big man. One has to imagine that playing in Boston would hold appeal for most players, but the C’s would also have to convince Aldridge that they’d be ready to compete for a championship in the immediate future. As Blakely notes, Aldridge is looking for a team that can give him a great chance of going deep in the playoffs.
When asked to handicap the odds of Aldridge donning green and white next season, Blakely handicapped the odds at 35-40%. That figure may sound optimistic, but Aldridge and Matthews are friendly and the guard’s inclusion could help convince the former No. 2 overall pick to join the C’s.
Matthews, meanwhile, could be a solid fit for the Celtics, independent of Aldridge. If his Achilles checks out, the Celtics might feel that the 28-year-old could provide them with the shooting that they need.