NBA Trade Rumors: Boston Celtics Field Calls for Guard Jason Terry? Contenders Need Top Sixth Man?
Two key injuries in less than a week might have turned the Boston Celtics into sellers with the NBA trade deadline less than three weeks away.
According to CBS Sports.com, the Celtics are fielding calls for guard Jason Terry.
Boston lost All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo for the season to an ACL tear, and Friday learned productive rookie forward Jared Sullinger will also sit out the rest of the year with a back injury.
After Rondo went down, it was rumored that team president Danny Ainge was shopping Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, especially with Pierce’s contract not-fully guaranteed for next season.
Moves like those could signal an end to a Celtics run that began when Garnett, along with guard Ray Allen, joined Pierce in 2007. Boston has a 23-23 record and is clinging to the East’s final playoff spot.
Terry has been a disappointment thus far this season after Boston lured him away from the Dallas Mavericks. The 35-year-old is netting 10 points per game, five below his career average, at 43 percent clip from the field.
However, Terry could be an excellent addition to a team looking to add one more piece for a title run. He was named the 2008-09 NBA Sixth Man Of The Year.
Boston is about $1.5 million above the salary cap, according to CBS Sports.com, and moving the two years and $10.6 million owed on Terry’s contract would alleviate any tax burdens. Terry is making $5 million this season.
If Ainge is planning on hitting the reset button, he will more than likely seek draft picks and cap relief in any trade.
Contending teams could be the best trading partners for Boston. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, could maybe use of Terry as a primary bench scorer during the playoffs. However, both clubs are very careful when managing their cap space, and adding Terry will push them above the limit.
The trade deadline is Feb. 21.
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