The Boston Celtics are finalizing a trade deal for All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for rising big man Brandan Wright, Brandan Wright, Jameer Nelson, and a couple of future draft picks as we speak. But Rondo is apparently not the only player that Danny Ainge is planning to ship out his season according to Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports:
Boston has been consistently shopping forward Jeff Green, trying to acquire a package that includes a first-round draft pick, sources said.
And it turns out that the market is hot for the versatile forward as numerous teams across the league have inquired on a possible trade deal for Green early this season according to a report by Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today:
Perceived as sellers, Celtics have received inquiries about Jeff Green from Clippers, Pelicans, Grizzlies but Cs not interested in offers.
For a young, developing team vying for a playoff spot in the brutal Western Conference like the Pelicans, the trade talks make sense. Green is a solid addition in the small forward position and would fit nicely - on paper at least - in New Orleans as a three-and-d type player. He has also been more consistent this season and has been playing great for a rebuilding Boston Celtics team.
Per Pro Basketball Talks:
Green is having the best season of his career at age 28 averaging 19.7 points a game with a good true shooting percentage of .567. He has been more consistent, which was always the big issue with Green. He has one more year on his contract at $9.4 million (it's a player option but he likely picks it up and hits the market in two years when the salary cap may spike).
The only problem with this deal is that the Celtics are asking too much from New Orleans. Boston is reportedly looking to acquire a first round pick for Green according to Spears and that proves too steep of a price. Green holds some trade value in the league but not first round pick quality.
But the Pelicans have just bumped the Phoenix Suns for the eight seed in the West and if they want to move up in the rankings and make some noise in the playoffs then having Green in their roster will truly be the right move even if it means sacrificing a first round draft pick.
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