The Boston Celtics are likely to deal at the deadline and Brandon Bass is the top name they have been getting calls about and teams like the Phoenix Suns, Charlotte Bobcats, Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans and Houston Rockets could be interested in making deal for the big man.
Bass has been mentioned in trade rumors throughout the season and he was close to getting dealt in the Omer Asik trade with the Houston Rockets, but that deal fell through when the two teams could not agree on exchanging draft picks. The Celtics have long been considered a team that will be active at the trading deadline and Bass is just one of a number of players that could move, including Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries and Avery Bradley. Danny Ainge has said that the team will not be trading Rajon Rondo and that has made Bass the top name teams are calling about.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Celtics have been getting calls from a number of teams and many experts around the league see Bass as a good fit for a contender, including someone like the Phoenix Suns and the Houston Rockets. The report cites the Sporting News as reporting that teams are looking for a center and with Bass they could get a player that fits in as a starter or someone that comes off the bench as well. This season he is averaging a solid 10 points and five rebounds and he is one player that is likely to get moves.
The Suns are a team that could make a trade, as they have been connected to the Lakers with Pau Gasol in a deal for Emeka Okafor and they could pull off the same with the Celtics. Boston is motivated to make moves to continue rebuilding and they want draft picks, which is something that the Suns have plenty of, as they have four first round picks coming up. The team is in playoff position in the west and would like to add a veteran big man and a name like Thaddeus Young with the Sixers has also come up.
The Rockets could be a fit again with the Omer Asik deal, but that is less likely after the two sides could not agree on a deal earlier in the season. Asik has been wasting away with the Rockets since they took away his starting position and signed Dwight Howard and with Bass making $6.5 million this season and less than $7 million next season, he is not too expensive either. Jeff Green has come up quite a bit in talks with the Celtics and reports have the Atlanta Hawks looking to acquire him and he has about $20 million left on his deal.
The Suns have taken a wait and see approach with Gasol after he was injured and another big man that could get attention is Zach Randolph. The Grizzlies have received calls about him from the Suns and while that was rebuffed, the team could get back down on that as it gets closer to the deadline and the Suns are motivated to make a move since they are in playoff position.
