Report: 'Celtics Will Be Active in the Trade Market'

Even after parting with multiple first-round picks to acquire Jrue Holiday, the Celtics have plenty of draft capital to upgrade their second unit.
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The Boston Celtics are fresh off an impressive five-game homestand where they beat the New York Knicks and swept a pair of two-game mini-series against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic.

They remain unbeaten at home this season, with an unblemished 14-0 mark, and at 20-5, they sit atop the NBA standings.

They're also playing some of their best basketball at the moment, with Jaylen Brown driving an up-tempo attack and their swarming defense limiting the Magic to shooting 43.2 percent and committing 30 turnovers in their two-tilt trip to Boston.

Now, the Celtics head to the West Coast for a four-game trip that starts Tuesday night against the Golden State Warriors. It's another challenging stretch, including a Christmas showdown against LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers.

It's also a busy time for their front office. As of Dec. 15, 81 players became trade eligible, bringing the total amount who fit that description to 88 percent of the Association.

While December deals are uncommon (none have happened in the last two seasons), it's a time when the groundwork gets laid for future trades.

To that point, Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic stated on Run It Back on FanDuel TV that "The Celtics will be active in the trade market to pursue bench help."

Previously, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype linked them to John Konchar, an inconsistently utilized shooter on the Memphis Grizzlies.

It would make even more sense for Boston to acquire a player who can operate at the four and the five who it would trust to be in its playoff rotation. The cost could prove too steep for president of basketball operations Brad Stevens. But he has proven he's not afraid to be aggressive, and a move of that nature would provide insurance in case Kristaps Porzingis or Al Horford miss time in the postseason.

Further Reading

Jaylen Brown Discusses Growing Leadership Role with Celtics: 'I've Embraced That'

Jaylen Brown Shares His View of What Defines 'Celtics Basketball'

Jaylen Brown Generates 31 Points as Pace-Pushing Celtics Complete Two-Game Sweep of Magic

Celtics Utilize Speed Advantage in Run Away Win vs. Magic: 'It Makes the Game Easier'

Here's What Stood Out as Shorthanded Celtics Throttled Magic to Extend Home Unbeaten Streak

Celtics Evaluate a Key to Mini-Series Sweep of Cavaliers: 'Playing the Right Way'

Derrick White Praises Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown's Impact That 'Doesn't Show Up on the Stat Sheet'

Jayson Tatum Praises Kristaps Porzingis for Allowing Celtics to Spin the Dial Defensively

An Empowered Jaylen Brown Strives to Balance Scoring with Playmaking: 'I've Grown A Lot'

Joe Mazzulla Believes Celtics' Second Unit is 'Starting to Develop an Identity'

Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present


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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.