Celtics Reportedly Expressing Interest in Multiple Rotation Players

NBA Insider reports the Boston Celtics have been active ahead of Thursday's trade deadline.

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Celtics do not have much financial flexibility to trade as a second apron team that isn't about to part with one of their top-six players. However, they do have the Grant Williams' Traded Player Exception (TPE) and an open roster spot.

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that Boston has been expressing interest in Kelly Olynyk, Delon Wright, Andre Drummond, and others.

Scotto stated that the Celtics are "looking to package some of their minimum contract players at the end of the rotation and draft pick compensation to bolster their bench heading into the playoffs."

The Celtics could also offer the Utah Jazz a package built around Payton Pritchard and draft capital for a reunion with Olynyk while fitting New England native Kris Dunn into the Grant Williams TPE. 

Though the team proved their ties with the guard after holding onto him through trade rumors since last season and ultimately turning over their roster has led to him taking on a more pronounced role in the second unit. Parting with the former Oregon Duck may again prove a direction the organization doesn't go in. Pritchard is still only 26 and just signed a team-friendly four-year, $30 million extension that kicks in next year with a bargain of $7.5 million annually.

Drummond would fit Boston's framework of a deal including draft compensation, while the C's absorb his contract utilizing the Grant Williams TPE. They could also potentially include their minimum contracts instead of using their most valuable tool to facilitate a trade. The 30-year-old veteran is on an expiring contract worth $3.3 million.

Wright is on an expiring deal worth $8.1 million, making him likely the most difficult to acquire. The need to cobble together several contracts and shake up the extended rotation for him seems like it probably won't happen.

There has been noise of the C's looking to add to their bench since the beginning of the season, when senior NBA Insider Shams Charania first stated that Boston will be active ahead of the NBA trade deadline.

The Celtics will undoubtedly be actively working the phones over the next 48-plus hours to figure out the cost of potential roster upgrades and whether there's a price worth paying to make a move they believe will help their pursuit of Banner 18.

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