The Celtics are navigating through the offseason as many expect them to make trades to shed salary from their roster. But that also means front offices around the NBA know the Celtics are looking for trade partners this summer, which also fits into the equation.
Per The Athletic’s Kelly Iko, the Rockets are “anticipating conversations with Boston’s front office” this offseason. That’s no surprise as Houston is looking to take the next step toward competitiveness with multiple intriguing players on their own roster.
The Rockets were one of the surprises of the NBA this season, finishing 52-30 for the No. 2 seed in the West. Former C’s coach Ime Udoka did an impressive job in his second season as the Rockets look set up to potentially compete in the near future. But that means the front office needs to bolster a roster that fell in seven games to the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.
The Rockets are another team rumored to be in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, though plenty of organizations are interested in the former NBA Finals MVP. Houston appears to be in a solid position from an asset perspective to potentially land Antetokounmpo in any potential deal. But the price tag and Antetokounmpo’s availability are other question marks.
While the Rockets did take a big step toward being a playoff contender, as seen in the playoffs, they can use more offense. So that’s where the Celtics could potentially enter the conversation, though it’s sounding like the Rockets are seeing how the market plays out in the coming weeks.