ESCALATING: Celtics Trade Reports
What goals do the Boston Celtics have in mind before the NBA trade deadline in 2024? On the one hand, there might not be much of a motivation to make bold or even little moves given that they have the best record in the league and, if their health holds up, an inside road to the 2024 NBA Finals.
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However, this is certainly the season where it makes the most sense to throw in all of their chips. However, what is the best way to find a player who is both excellent enough to make a transaction worthwhile and earn enough money to keep Boston’s core of players together?
Many are beginning to speculate that the Celtics could because of their cap position.
However, Shams Charania of The Athletic recently disclosed on FanDuel’s “Run it Back” podcast that the Celtics “are definitely trying” to improve through trade, even if they are currently sitting nicely in the East.
“But they don’t have the salaries to go match out there (in trades) to go get a difference-making player who might be making $18, 20 million,” he clarified, referring to their bench players.
Charania said that Boston could “use a few of the guys on the bench in terms of salary matching” in a potential deadline deal, but that this would limit Boston to their $6.2 million exception.
The Athletic reporter mused, “I don’t know if that kind of guy is out there, and playoff rotations do shrink come playoff time.”
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As for Boston, we believe it’s likely that they combine two bench alternatives that aren’t used much to put themselves in a position where they might perhaps see the floor and possibly receive a little boost from a returning player.
After that, give Neemias Queta a permanent roster place and, per Charania’s recommendation, add a buyout candidate.
Not quite spectacular, but this team doesn’t require much.
