Boston Celtics trade rumors, Jaren Jackson Jr. trade rumors, Jayson Tatum injury update, recovery timeline status, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Celtics news
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The Boston Celtics have been linked to one of their top trade targets before the deadline as a Jayson Tatum injury return looms closer.
The Boston Celtics have outperformed nearly all expectations this season despite being without franchise star Jayson Tatum, but that shouldn’t rule them out from making a trade before the February 5th deadline.
Most recently, the Celtics were named a realistic landing spot for big man Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies, who, like Ja Morant, could be on a ticking clock with the franchise ahead of the deadline.
Along with the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, whowere also named as potential landing spots for the $240 million frontcourt player, Boston could make a massive move for Jackson in hopes of securing their lineup as it waits for an eventual Tatum return.
While Jaylen Brown continues to prove himself as an MVP candidate, winning four straight playoff rounds won’t come easy, and though the team has seen strong performances out of Neemias Queta, adding Jackson would be amajor upgrade next to Tatum, Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and the rest of their roster.
Celtics Blockbuster Mock Trade For Jaren Jackson Jr.
Given their current performance, currently third in net rating and second in offensive rating, the Celtics were predicted not to duck the luxury tax and instead go all-in this season, especially with the recent update on Tatum’s recovery.
With that, Boston was named a top landing spot for Jackson, and according to Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report, could land him in a massive deal that would shake up the NBA.
Here’s what that would look like:
Boston Celtics receive: Jaren Jackson Jr. and John Konchar
Memphis Grizzlies receive:Anfernee Simons, Sam Hauser, Hugo González, Jordan Walsh, 2027 first-round pick, 2031 first-round pick, and 2032 first-round pick swap
Cutting ties with Simons wouldn’t be the biggest concern if it meant adding Jackson, but mortgaging the futures of Gonzalez and Walsh, along with a few picks, likelywouldn’t comeeasy for head coach Joe Mazzulla and the rest of Boston’s decision-makers.
Yetstill, as seen with the success they had with Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis, adding a versatile big man toput next to their top-tier wings could very well work out in their favor.
“To really reclaim elite status, though, they have to address a power rotation that subtracted all three of Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet last summer,” Buckley wrote on the trade idea. “Of all the remotely realistic options, Jackson would be Boston’s dream get: more reliable than Anthony Davis, rangier on both ends than Domantas Sabonis, more versatile than Nikola Vučević, more dynamic than Daniel Gafford.”
The injuries and overall availability of Jackson remain a concern, as well as his hefty contract, but if that gives Boston a bettershot to win a title,a deal like this can’t be ruled out.
NBA Sides With Joe Mazzulla On Controversial Call
In other Celtics news, Mazzulla recently made headlines for a press conference in which he consistently repeated thesame two words: ‘illegal screen.’
The Boston head coach was referring to a play in which officials did not call a foul on Pascal Siakam for an illegal screen in the team’s latest loss to the Indiana Pacers. Mazzulla was visibly upset, but now, nearly 24 hours after the game, the NBA announced the coach was right in his protest of the no-call.
“The NBA sided withCeltics coach Joe Mazzulla on Tuesday, saying in itsLast Two Minutes Report thatIndiana Pacers starPascal Siakam did indeed set an illegal screen ahead of his game-winning shot against Boston the previous night,” ESPN staff wrote in an article.
“Siakam set the screen at the top of the 3-point arc, causing Boston’sDerrick White to lose his balance. The star center then got the ball back fromAndrew Nembhard, pump-faked and stepped inside the foul line for the high-arcing leaner that banked through with 6.1 seconds to give Indiana the 98-96 victory.”
While the Pacers are still sittingabout the bottom of the East, they handed the Celtics an unexpected loss,much to do with the apparent no-call.
Still, Boston is in a prime position to make the playoffs, currently third in the East, as all eyes now shift to a potential blockbuster trade before the deadline, as well as Tatum’s impending return.