Celtics guard Jaden Springer is considered a prime trade candidate for a team looking to reduce its luxury tax bill. Springer may have enhanced his value with a rare chance to play extended minutes against the Clippers on Wednesday. He had six points and tied a career-high with four steals in a season-high 20 minutes, Brian Robb of Masslive.com notes.
“He’s just got an innate skill to impact the game with his physicality, his defense, and I thought that’s what the game needed at the time,” coach Joe Mazzulla said. “I think it’s one of the best things you can do in this league is to just deliver when your name is called, regardless of when it is. So it’s a credit to him and the work ethic that he has. I thought it was his defense, his physicality, his presence changed the game for us.”
Springer, who is making $4MM, will be eligible for restricted free agency after this season, though at this point he seems unlikely to earn a qualifying offer.
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Celtics wing Jaylen Brown is battling through an ankle injury, among other ailments, Robb writes. “Just pushing through,” Brown said. “I think this is definitely the rougher part, physically, during the season. I got some injuries and things like that. But I try to make myself available every night. I’ll make no excuses. But it is what it is. I’m a little beat up. But I’ll be ready tomorrow.” Boston is in the midst of a stretch in which it plays 10 games in 17 days.
- The Raptors are well positioned to garner some assets prior to the trade deadline, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet. They are $10MM below the luxury tax line and haven’t used their mid-level exception. They have made it known they’re willing to facilitate trades and there doesn’t appear to be any players beyond Scottie Barnes and Gradey Dick that they consider untouchable. We passed along a few more Raptors-related notes and rumors earlier today.
- Cameron Johnson is trying to tune out all the trade chatter surrounding him, as he told Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “Keep my head down. I just try to emotionally disconnect from that,” the Nets forward said. “I have to, for the sake of myself, and invest all that energy into the present and to the team that we have. No matter what happens, the Nets have invested a lot of resources in trying to make me a better player. So my job is to compete for the city, for this team, for this organization, for my teammates.” Johnson has missed eight of the last 11 games due to an ankle injury.
I don’t think Gradey Dick is untouchable.
He should be. He’s got a nice future imo. Raptors have to be about youth and upside. Tanking for the draft.
Tommy Beer
@TommyBeer
·
“”In the 144 minutes Karl-Anthony Towns and Precious Achiuwa have shared the floor together this season, New York has outscored their opponents by 44 points and is allowing just 104.4 points per 100 possessions.
That’s the best DefRtg among all NY’s two-man lineups that have… Show more“”
It’s basketball and you go with what you got. Until you get what you need ……all about The Team.
I’ve said it since Towns trade. Starting Precious helps Towns on D. And it helps Bridges look to score more on offense. Establishes both these circumstances sooner. From the start. Precious is avg 18.8 mins now. So getting 24-26 mins from him by starting. Is not a monumental achievement. Hart strengthens bench. And gives Knicks a punch from bench. Hart can still avg 34 mins. It’s not rocket science. You go with what you got…….
I’m here for you Thibs ………. Feb 6.
They are starting to get me !!!!!!
link to nbaanalysis.net
RJ should be untouchable too. I’d trade Quickley quickly!
Trade Brown too…
Id give up Bogdan & a 1st (either the 2025 Kings or Lakers pick) for Bruce Brown if we can get him to agree to a contract extension