The Boston Celtics continue to be linked to players ahead of the March 25 trade deadline. One player on their radar appears to be Harrison Barnes, sources told Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.

The Athletic’s Sam Amick cited sources that a deal might be near, as the Sacramento Kings are ready to become sellers and unloading Barnes' contract would free up salary-cap space.

The Kings sit eight games below .500 to start the second half of the season. Sacramento signed Barnes to a four-year, $85 million contract in 2019.

Boston has reportedly shown interest in the Detroit Pistons' Jerami Grant and Orlando Magic's All-Star Nikola Vucevic. It’s been reported that it would take a massive offer for Detroit and Orlando to consider a deal. Grant is having a breakout season, averaging 23.4 points per game. Vucevic is considered one of the more effective centers in the East.

The Celtics could potentially create a package that allows them to acquire Barnes. The veteran is having a solid season with 16.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Barnes is averaging career highs of 3.6 assists and 49.2% shooting from the field.

Entering the second half as the East’s No. 4 seed, the Celtics are poised to secure home-court advantage in a first-round playoff series. Boston is three games out of the No. 3 seed. The Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks appear to be a level ahead of Boston in terms of championship contenders.

Adding an impactful forward could increase the Celtics’ chances of winning the East. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are both having All-Star seasons for Boston. Marcus Smart is getting closer to returning from a calf injury.

The Celtics reached the conference finals but failed to make the Finals in three of the last four seasons.

Harrison Barnes Kings Celtics
Harrison Barnes #40 of the Sacramento Kings drives to the basket against Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on November 25, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. Adam Glanzman/Getty Images
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