The NBA trade market can be an interesting beast during the summer, as things get hot and heavy during draft time and right after before falling off during August and latter parts of the summer league, but now that the season is getting closer, more talk is starting up involving trades and after making moves already the Boston Celtics could be part of it again.
According to Yahoo Sports, the Celtics are looking to make another move after trading Jason Terry, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets, as Kris Humphries and Gerald Wallace could move after being dealt away from Brooklyn. The Celtics want to rebuild and since both players have decent sized contracts, it is likely in the best interests for Danny Ainge and coach Brad Stevens to deal them. The original trade netted those two players also with MarShon Brooks and three first round picks and now the Celtics are sitting pretty waiting for those to come.
They know it will be a tough season in Boston and they could get even more relief or draft picks in a deal for the players and the repost says that Brandon Bass could be involved as well. Humphries has an expiring deal worth over $10 million, while the team is desperate to move Wallace, who has $30 million owed to him through 2016 and with Bass getting $14 million over two years, that's plenty of room to make if they are traded. The team could look towards the Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies or the Chicago Bulls as possible trade options and Humphries is likely the centerpiece of any deal.
Despite his headlines for his marriage to Kim Kardashian, Humphries is a banger and a solid player who averaged 13.8 points and 11 rebounds two years ago and is a consistent double-double threat. He was one of the best big men in the league and ranked high in rebounding among players at his position and despite not playing much in the playoffs with the Nets, he could be a nice fit for a number of teams down low.
Apart from the major deal, the Celtics have also been active in the trade market after sending Fab Melo to the Memphis Grizzlies in a deal for Donte Green. According to ESPN.com, the Celtics decided to move Melo just one season after drafting him at number 22 overall and clearly they are deciding to stick with Jared Sullinger, their other first rounder from that year rather than Melo.
Melo played in the D-League mostly and was solid, averaging 9.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and a league-high 3.1 blocks in 26.2 minutes per game, but the team felt his game did not translate well to the NBA. The Celtics also wanted to shed salary to get under the luxury tax and making that move along with the other trade could help that. Rajon Rondo is still around and all signs point to him not getting trade despite many rumors to the Pistons and other places.
