Rebuild mode on 1000%
The Boston Celtics are completely cleaning house of their veterans on the roster, with their newest trade sending Jeff Green to the Memphis Grizzlies for Tayshaun Prince‘s expiring contract and a future first-round pick. The Grizz had actively been pursuing either Green or Luol Deng from the Miami Heat in the past few weeks, but went hard after the Celtics small forward when talks between Memphis and Miami broke down recently.
Green was pulled from the lineup right before Boston’s game against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, with pending news of the trade going down.
It was believed that JG was going to opt out of his contract after the season and become a free-agent, so the Celtics decided to move him to acquire more future assets, instead of letting him walk away for nothing when their year ended. Earlier in the day, Boston also sent Brandan Wright to the Phoenix Suns for a conditional first-round draft pick.
With the rebuilding process going full throttle when Rajon Rondo was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, the Celtics have now stocked up on draft picks (14 total picks over the next two years, with six first-round selections) that can be used to build a young core and/or trade for talent.
Memphis now gets the Celtics leading scorer and improves at the small forward position they were lacking, increasing their chances of making a run in the playoffs later this year.
UPDATE: As the deal finalizes and is submitted for league approval, another team is added and more players involved.
https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/554062988060012544[/media]
OS REWIND: Mavericks Officially Acquire Rajon Rondo in Trade with Celtics