The Cleveland Cavaliers could strike a blockbuster deal at the February 18 deadline in a potential three-way transaction with the New Orleans Pelicans and Boston Celtics. The Celtics are 10-2 in their last 12 games, with some impressive numbers during this 12 game run.
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DeMarcus Cousins, C, Sacramento Kings – Through Jan. 31: 27.0 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 2.8 apg – Cousins is the only player in the National Basketball Association to rank in the top five in both points and rebounds, and holds the highest point total in a game this season (56). Now that the Celtics are a surprising 32-23 and sitting at No. 3 in the East, the time to give superb coach Brad Stevens the star he has been looking for could be right now. The Celtics have the assets and desire to make a splash, but it appears Celtics president Danny Ainge is hoping for prices to go down before he pulls the trigger on a deal. With the deadline so close, the Boston Celtics are going to be featured in just about every trade that is in the rumors or in actual negotiation stages. The Atlanta Hawks’ four-time All-Star will turn 30 before next season.
While most fans seem to expect Ainge to make a trade, Keefe wasn’t so sure. Speaking of another huge trade, how about Gordon Hayward, who could also fit in Stevens’ system after Hayward was a player for Butler during Stevens’ run at the University. If he ever becomes available, however, the Celtics have the draft picks and young players to throw at the Kings that might be enough to snag him away. One thing I do know is that Danny Ainge has a great mind, and he will try to make this team into genuine championship contenders. He has the ability to understand which player is a good fit for the Celtics organization and is also quite resourceful in finding ways to make things work for him and the team.
If a big name proves to be too expensive, Ainge could make a smaller move for a role player without giving up much in terms of talent or picks.
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The risk/reward dilemma is a key aspect in everything the Celts are doing right now, and in particular with the pick coming from the Nets this June (as well as the right to swap positions with them next year and the unencumbered first-rounder from Brooklyn in 2017).
