Three weeks after the blockbuster trade that sent Rajon Rondo packing, the Boston Celtics continue to make moves with an eye toward the future.
Just a few hours before taking on the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, the Celtics agreed to send Brandan Wright, who was acquired from the Dallas Mavericks in the Rondo deal, to the Phoenix Suns for a conditional first-round draft pick and a $5 million trade exception.
The pick, which comes via the Minnesota Timberwolves and is top-12 projected in 2015 and 2016, will become two second-rounders at that point. Given the state of the Timberwolves and landscape in the Western Conference, the most likely outcome is a pair of second-round selections.
Wright was never in Boston’s long-term plans, despite fitting the profile of a player the Celtics desperately need. He’s very much the long, athletic rim protector they lack, but his expiring contract made another trade a formality.
Flipping Wright to the Suns expands the haul from the Rondo trade to Jae Crowder and Jameer Nelson, as many as four future draft picks (two firsts and a second, or a first and three seconds) and now two trade exceptions ($12.9 million and $5 million). It’s still not as much as Danny Ainge could have gotten for the All-Star point guard had he moved him earlier, but it’s getting better.
Ainge wasn’t ready to call it a night after the Phoenix trade, reportedly moving toward a swap that would send Jeff Green to the Memphis Grizzlies in either a two-team deal for Tayshaun Prince and a first-round pick or a three-deal trade involving the New Orleans Pelicans that would also send John Salmons to Boston (with Quincy Pondexter going from Memphis to New Orleans).
Green was pulled from the starting lineup against Indiana, while Memphis played Prince against the New Orleans Pelicans. With the trade expected to be consummated at some point, whether it’s a two or three-team deal, the Celtics don’t care if Prince is put in harm’s way. They simply want his expiring contract.
The Grizzlies wanted to add a wing scorer and were reportedly chasing Green and Luol Deng. Green comes cheaper and the Celtics were a natural trade partner as they rebuild. While he has disappointed since coming over from the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Kendrick Perkins trade, Green should be a nice addition for Memphis as either the third or fourth option among the starters or as the top scorer off the bench. They won’t ask for as much from him as Boston did and that’s why it’ll work.
In moving Wright and Green in separate deals, Ainge was able to land yet another first round pick (undisclosed from the Grizzlies), two high second rounders (or a first from Minnesota if the Timberwolves become a playoff contender very soon) and another TPE while being proactive with Green.
Depending on how you view it, Ainge either cleared Green’s $9.2 million salary for next season, or ensured a return in the event the forward opts out and becomes a free agent this summer.
It would be surprising if Prince (or Salmons) actually take the floor for the Celtics, which only adds to the allure here. Brad Stevens has wrestled with his inactive list recently as injured players have returned to health. Dealing Green and Wright without taking back a player that warrants a place in the rotation loosens his collar.
Nelson played considerable minutes for the Celtics immediately following the Dallas trade, but now appears relegated for Gerald Wallace territory on the end of the bench -- and that’s if a buyout isn’t a possibility.
The big man rotation will now consist of Jared Sullinger, Brandon Bass, Tyler Zeller and Kelly Olynyk. With Green and Wright gone, Bass now carries the most value on the trade market. Boston’s roster composition could be further simplified in the near future.
James Young should benefit significantly from the Green deal, which frees minutes on the wing for the rookie. A shoulder injury cost Young some time, but he has largely been a DNP-CD so far this season.
Young entered Monday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets with 18 minutes on his NBA resume and then matched that total while scoring 13 points on seven shots. Two nights later he was inactive against the Brooklyn Nets. Even Friday night with Green pulled amid rumors, Young played just seven minutes in a game that went to overtime.
As I wrote a few weeks ago in the wake of the Rondo deal, Ainge is eventually going to have to cash in all these draft picks. He’ll need to pull all the right strings and determine when to keep picks and when to move them for proven NBA talent. Ainge has an embarrassment of riches to play with, but soon the pressure will be on him to make all these future moves make sense in the present.