The Boston Celtics could be an active team this summer and reports have the Celts looking at a DeMarcus Cousins trade as a possibility and this comes as the team may chase names like Kevin Love, Greg Monroe, Marc Gasol, DeAndre Jordan and Reggie Jackson in free agency for Brad Stevens after the team made the playoffs this year.
The Celtics are coming into the offseason with a ton of cap space and along with the Lakers and Knicks, the team is expected to chase top free agents. According to NESN.com, the Celtics are expected to target Cousins in a trade this summer if the Kings flirt with moving the big man. The Celtics reportedly were interested in the Kevin Love trade last summer and Cousins could fill the need for a strong big man up front for Stevens.
Marc Stein at ESPN reports that Cousins will be a target for teams this summer and that the Celtics could make a "push" to get a deal done. Stein writes that the team has been amassing draft picks over the past two years and they could look at offering the Kings a package of picks to get Cousins. The team added Isaiah Thomas at the trading deadline and the Celtics feel they are a player or two away from contending.
Danny Ainge said that the team needs to have a "busy summer" after the successful season of making the playoffs and that could mean chasing big names. Cousins had a great year for the Kings and he averaged career highs with 24 points and 12 rebounds per contest.
Speaking of Love, Pro Basketball Talk reported earlier in the season that he could be a target for the Celtics if he opts out of his contract in Cleveland. After Kelly Olynyk injured Love and knocked him out for the playoffs the Cavs star could be turned off by Boston, but he also could chalk up the injury to just playing the game of basketball. Either way, if Love hits the market, he is expected to be a target for the Celtics.
The Celtics played above expectations this season, as no one expected them to be in the playoffs and they ended up as the number seven seed. The team finished two games under .500 at 40-42 and that was good enough to get Brad Stevens some top five votes for coach of the year. The Celtics are in a better position than the Knicks and Lakers, as they have been rebuilding for a couple years and could be close to breaking through.
Some free agents could be swayed by the progress the Celtics have made and that could push them to Boston over signing in New York or Los Angeles. The team has a number of solid young players and a good foundation with Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk, Marcus Smart, Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder and they could use that foundation to help convince players to sign. Names like Monroe, Love or Gasol could look at the Celtics as an up and coming situation and with some top players signing, it could mean a division title in the weak Atlantic.
Check here for more on Cousins and the Celtics plans for free agency.
