Lou Williams seemed like a reasonable target for the Celtics a few weeks ago, but his recent scoring surge and the Clippers’ rise in the Western Conference standings has put him out of their reach, writes A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston. Williams is posting career-best numbers at age 31, averaging 23.3 points per game and shooting better than 40% on 3-pointers. L.A. has climbed back to .500 after a slow start and is just a half-game behind Denver for the final playoff spot.
The Celtics are hoping to find additional scoring punch to make up for the loss of Gordon Hayward, who suffered a devastating ankle injury on opening night. With Williams out of the picture, Blakely suggests the Grizzlies’ Tyreke Evans might be able to provide short-term help in Boston.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Hayward continues to make progress and could begin traveling with the Celtics on a regular basis in March, Blakely adds in a separate story. He’s with the team on its western swing and will remain in California after tonight’s game to get a change of scenery as he recovers. The team wants to make sure Hayward can handle rehab work without an ultra-gravity machine before he becomes a regular on road trips. Coach Brad Stevens cautioned that Hayward has “a long way to go” before he can think about playing again.
- After a decade in the league, Knicks guard Courtney Lee isn’t easily affected by trade rumors, relays Anthony Rieber of Newsday. Lee is scoring a career-best 13.7 points per game, but there have been whispers that New York may send him to a contender before next month’s trade deadline. “I’ve been in this league 10 years, been traded a couple times,” Lee said. “It’s nothing new. Only thing you can do is control what you can control, show up, be professional, do your work, go hard and leave it all out on the floor and whatever happens happens. I understand a lot about this NBA. It’s a business first and foremost. It comes with the territory, so I definitely understand.”
- The Raptors have a legitimate chance to land the top seed in the East, but they still have problems that might not be fixable before the trade deadline, according to Michael Grange of SportsNet. Toronto ranks 26th in the league in 3-point shooting percentage, Norman Powell has nearly fallen out of the rotation and the offense relies on DeMar DeRozan as much as ever. An extra shooter or two would help, but Grange expects the team to focus on the players already on the roster rather than go after a short-term addition.
A contender looking for a scoring punch off the bench should call up Phoenix about Troy Daniels. He’s limited on both sides of the floor but he can fill it up from deep
Raptors should also target Belinelli
Raptors: Belinelli, Luke Babbitt
Hawks: Nogueira and Bruno Caboclo
These players get babied too much, Hayward is already shooting. He has a total of 4 months to get back, Isiah Thomas was playing on one leg in his Bad Boy days and killing it. Same with Kawhi, get on the court you softies.
Dionis=king of the trolls
Softie? Did you see his foot pointing to the roof? Do you type in your sleep?
I just don’t want to hear about Hayward unless he’s coming back to the court, who cares about his rehab if he is coming back next year? It’s irrelevant news.
Haha what a softie for crying about an article
Then stop clicking on the articles if you don’t want to read them???
Hayward’s injury can hardly be compared to Thomas or Kawhi. He can’t jump and run. Softie? Look up ankle fractures.
If its not about Hayward returning to the court keep it on rotoworld.com
You are the bane of the nba. You just don’t get basketball.
PS that was to Dionis not the smart Thomar
Hey charlie get back to work and stay off the internet, your boss is going to fire you.
Hey Dionis go back to doing your homework or your parents will ground you.
No point getting into it with that clown Dionis he thinks he knows all
Raptors should look to trade with Knicks for Lee. Very active defender and great shooter. Contracts would have to work out but this could be a great deal for both teams
The twolves should attempt to get
A.) Lou Williams
B.) tyreke Evans
With Aldrich, the Thunder 1st, and potentially a second rounder.
By March this team willl he burnt out at the rate thibs is playing them
Toronto can absorb Lee with a TPE, but they are 1 mm short of the tax line and gave up a 1st round pick and a valuable backup PG to get under the line. So, I think paying the tax is pretty much out of the question; although, who knows.
They don’t have a contract or two totaling even 10.5 mm that they’d be willing to send out, and that at least the Knicks would want. Perhaps a multi-team deal, but Toronto would still need to shed multiple contracts of young players.
Toronto will end up choking.
DMDR should demamd a trade back home where he wants to eventually play. Purple and Gold will suit him!
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