The Celtics might have been willing to include Jayson Tatum in a trade for Anthony Davis, but they never would have matched the offer that the Lakers made for the Pelicans’ star, according to Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald. Acquiring Davis was less risky for L.A. because of the likelihood he will re-sign there when he opts out of his current contract.
Boston was among the teams trying to work out a deal for Davis, but the offers never matched what was speculated when it seemed there was a chance to pair him with Kyrie Irving, Bulpett adds. With Irving believed to be headed for Brooklyn, the Celtics were wary about mortgaging their future when Davis had the option to leave after one season.
There’s more this morning from Boston:
- The Celtics are trying to work out a longer-term deal with Al Horford, who must decide by tomorrow whether to opt into a $30.1MM salary for next season, Bulpett reports in the same story. The team is offering to add two years to Horford’s current deal if he agrees to accept a lower salary for 2019/20. Horford, who turned 33 this month, is one of the few veteran leaders on what’s shaping up to be a very young team next year. He is coming off another productive season, posting a 13.6/6.7/4.2 line in 68 games.
- Restricted free agent Terry Rozier won’t have nearly the value on the open market that he would have last year, notes Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated. A rival executive told Mannix that Rozier could have commanded $18-$20MM annually if he had reached free agency after leading the Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals in 2018. Interest has fallen after Rozier experienced an uneven season while trying to adjust to a backup role again. The Celtics will have added incentive to keep him with Irving expected to leave. “I’m a big fan of Terry’s,” president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said recently. “I think that if Terry was in the right circumstance and the right role, I think he would love playing in Boston, in my opinion. And if not, then I think Terry would let me know that. But Terry and I have a very good relationship, as Terry does with (coach) Brad (Stevens) as well.”
- The failure to land Davis makes it more likely that the Celtics will hold onto all three of their first-round selections, states Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston (Twitter link). Boston has picks at No. 14, 20 and 22.
Package 20 and 22 to trade up for Bol Bol
Don’t go anywhere near Bol Bol. Fab Melo 2.0
Thank you ! Bol bol doesn’t fit in today’s game. I just can’t see him anchoring a defense(he has no motor) Being able to guard on the perimeter & being agile enough to get in and out the paint. Even though he can shoot teams are looking for embiids or capelas and he is just boban with a 3 point shot.
he could of been a good player in the 80s and 90s BUT not in todays NBA plus it seems to me once you get past 7″3 staying healthy is really hard its just too rough on the knees and feet and back of these giants… the only big athlete who stayed healthy was Kareem… but Bol,Bradley,Smits,Sampson,Ming,Muresan….they all just struggled to stay on the court.
Agree
Boban is the most efficient player in NBA history. Put some respect on his name
i figured Stockton would have been.
Scary Terry getting PAID! LOL
If Rozier is the key to Boston’s future then the Celtics are in serious trouble.
Arthur Hill = Fake News
makes up a story w/o sources GFTO
All that Celtics dynasty talk..
Ainge normally like to wait it out for the other GM to blink or ask for another throw-in to win a trade but the Celtics can’t afford to get any younger, so they must not get too cute and deal some of their three 1st round choices in a lousy draft over the next couple of days.
Mock draft names for Celtics make a lot of sense. Bol bol is worth the risk