Celtics Notes: Horford, Hunter, Depth

The Celtics and Sixers make sense as trade partners, but a deal between the two seems unlikely, Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald writes. The Celtics need help in the front court, where the Sixers have a surplus, and the Sixers need wing help, where Boston has depth, but the stakes are too high to make a trade, Bulpett details. The teams discussed a significant deal in February and had further talks over the summer, but with each team at pivotal points in their respective processes while playing in the same division, a trade should not be expected right now, Bulpett surmises.

Here’s more out of Boston:

• Al Horford has been a better fit in Boston than expected, Celtics coaches told A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. The prized newcomer has blended in with his teammates while still asserting himself as a prominent leader on the floor and inside the locker room early on, Blakely writes.
• Second-year player R.J. Hunter needs to string together a few more performances like the one he had against Charlotte on Saturday to avoid possibly being cut, Blakely writes in a separate piece.  Hunter’s future on the Celtics is unclear because although he showed potential last season, Boston has 16 players with guaranteed contracts and must get rid of at least one, Blakely adds. Prior to Saturday’s game, Hunter had struggled.