NBA Rumors: Boston Celtics Keeping Sight On Sharp Shooting Big Man

The Boston Celtics’ feeble frontcourt has been on the receiving end of the majority of the trade talks involving the team. Danny Ainge, however, clarified that his team will prioritize boosting its bench more in a potential move on or before the NBA trade deadline on Thursday. That makes Washington Wizards spot-up shooter Davis Bertans a feasible target to consider, a report said.

The Celtics General Manager did not dismiss nor confirm any of the speculations roaming around the league with regards to his team when he spoke with NBC Sports Boston. But the 60-year-old hinted that a swap move remains a possibility when he said: “I think we're going to look to see if there's ways to strengthen the end of our bench.”

Chis Mannix of Sports Illustrated then reported that the 27-year-old Latvian is being considered by the Celtics. With his length combined with a steady outside shooting, it is like hitting two birds with one stone for Boston as Bertans is seen as someone who could fill a significant void on the Celtics frontcourt as well the depth of their bench.

“There is strong interest in Boston in Davis Bertans, who would fill a couple of needs. Bertans could join the frontcourt rotation and juice what has been a brutally bad shooting bench,” Mannix wrote. “The Celtics' second unit is 28 in three-point shooting, per NBA.com, sandwiched between Minnesota and Cleveland. For a team that makes a living beyond the three-point line … that’s bad.”

The Wizards have remained mum on suitors wanting to acquire Bertans. But if the Celtics go on to pursue the stretch big man, analysts expect them to surrender their future draft picks.

“Washington has effectively hung up on teams looking to extract Bertans, but Boston could make things interesting if they throw a pick or two into the pot. Because really … what are they holding on to them for?” Mannix added.

But Ainge mentioned that while they have their radar open for potential acquisitions, the actual execution of the deals will not happen just for the sake of pulling off one. "We don't want to make a deal just to make a deal,” he said.