The Celtics reached an agreement with center Greg Monroe on a one-year, $5MM pact on Friday but the team is not done searching for scoring options off the bench, Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald reports.
Citing two Western Conference sources, Bulpett writes that the Celtics’ top two targets are Lou Williams and Tyreke Evans. The Grizzlies are currently sitting Evans until the deadline; Williams continues to score at will, posting at least 20 points in his past six games for the Clippers.
As the Celtics seek upgrades, however, general manager Danny Ainge is not budging from paying his desired price. The Grizzlies are reportedly seeking a first-round pick for Evans and it’s safe to assume Williams, who is averaging a career-high 23.5 PPG, will command a similar return.
Bulpett notes that the Celtics are being cautious with their pursuit of wing players as they do not want Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum to lose playing time.
Evans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rozier is starting to make Smart expendable and Smart has an expiring deal I’d trade Smart and our own first for either one of the two
Would either team want Smart? Memphis especially isn’t looking for expiring deals cuz they’re still capped out next year with Gasol Conley and Parsons
Smart and our own 1st round pick for one of these two guys? That seems insane to me, I don’t think either are worth a 1st round pick. Let alone giving them a player on top of it.
Lol both of these players are getting traded for firsts
Lol Celtics just announced they would deal Smart for a 1st round pick…..so I don’t see them dealing him with a 1st for Tyreke
Well you have to make money work some how.
Actually that’s not really true. Read The article in the Herald. They have a $4 million dollar cushion
The $4MM cushion Bulpett is referring to is how far the Celtics are below the tax line, I believe.
In order to acquire Evans, they’d need to send out at least $1,822,858 in salary. In order to acquire Williams, they’d need to send out at least $3,942,858.
Celtics have enough left over from Monroe signing in the Gordon Hayward DPE to acquire Evans (about 3.4 million left over)
That exception can only be used one time for up to 8.3 million. They used it for Monroe. It’s gone.
Only allowed on one player I believe
Smart and a late first does seem right for either one.
Smart means nothing to either team. He would just be used to make the money work. But I think keeping smart is smart right now.
I think if you lose or trade Marcus Smart that takes some of the tenacity and grittiness and toughness away that makes the Celtics so difficult to match up with.
They already traded away Avery Bradley and his tough defense…, shipping out Smart would really hurt I believe.
Sure they’re a great team, sure smart is on expiring deal, but I think you need him this year.
Wow the NBA FA market and trade deadline is so much more exciting than MLB and now with C’s having all these assets and the will to use them Ainge is making the Dombrowski and the BoSox look like boring chumps!
Smart, Bird, and a 2nd to cavs
Cavs 2018 1st to MEM Jae crowder to Celtics
Tyreke to Celtics
MEM gets the 1st it wants, CLE gets a guy who actually wants to play defense, Celtics get old friend Jae and a surefire scorer off the bench. NO CHANCE IN HEL Celtics try to deal with the Cavs but getting crowder makes this interesting imo. You could sub the Cavs out for the thunder just as easily.
Jae Crowder is terrible. Be glad he is no longer a Celtic. Secondly, no one is paying a 1st rounder for Tyreke Evans. He cannot be re-signed using Bird rights and there’s not enough teams that feel they are contenders to pay the price when teams are valuing 1st rounders highly. Lou Williams is a slightly different story because he’s a better player and able to be re-signed, but he only brought back a 1st last year with an additional year on his contract.
I would move two 2nds for Evans or our own first this year for Williams.
Your crazy if you think these 2 guys are as good as they are playing the only reason they are getting good numbers this yr is because someone needs to score on those teams
Celtics are saying they’ll take a first round pick for Smart perCBS.com.
Denver has offered Emmanuel Mudiay and2nd pick for Tyreke Evans.