Kevin Love (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics continue to be at the center of NBA trade rumors with Danny Ainge pining for patience.
The Celtics were linked to every big name that was ever pondered in a trade, but Chris Forsberg, who covers the Boston Celtics for ESPN, took note of the sources cited by the cites that confirmed the trade rumors.
"Bleacher Report cited 'rival general managers' while suggesting that Russell Westbrook could become available via trade and pegged the Celtics as the 'most likely destination.' Sporting News cited 'front-office sources' while suggesting that Blake Griffin is a "likely target" for Boston."
Forsberg noted that those rumors fueled the discussion in Beantown and placed the Celtics at the forefront of the city's sports teams which had the illustrious New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox.
However, a deal has not happened yet and more pundits are questioning the wisdom of chasing Westbrook and Griffin-who are both free agents at the end of the season.
The analysts took over, as Chris Mannix from The Vertical went on CSN and his comments were transcribed by Celtics Blog.
Mannix shot down the Blake Griffin rumors:
"From what I've been told, I don't believe Blake Griffin is available at the moment. That could change in the coming weeks and months, but from my understanding the Celtics and Clippers have not discussed a deal anytime recently with respect to Blake Griffin."
This contradicts the report from Sean Deveney of Sporting News that was first tweeted by Keith Smith of Real GM and Dan Lifshatz, albeit he didn't name him at first.
Mannix also shot down the Russell Westbrook rumors:
"Russell Westbrook, another player who has not been put on the market at this moment. Equally as important, I don't believe the Celtics have received any kind of indication from Russell Westbrook's camp that he would be willing to re-sign there in the offseason, which I think is going to turn out to be a big sticking point. I'm highly skeptical that either one of those players, at this time, could be headed to Boston."
To be fair, Howard Beck's Bleacher Report video report (which is the acknowledged source of all the Westbrook talk) did not confirm talks and did cite the buzz from "rival executives." It did not claim that any talks have taken place.
On that note, Mannix corroborated with Bill Simmons pronouncement that Jimmy Butler is the most realistic target. Simmons also shot down DeMarcus Cousins as a target in this report.
Mannix also added Kevin Love as a viable target as Boston is "very aggressive" and trying to make a deal "by tomorrow" if possible, which is probably why they should shy away from impending free agents like Griffin or Westbrook as negotiations for that would be complicated. Griffin and Bulter are on longer term deals.
"I don't think Westbrook or Blake Griffin are the current targets. I think you have to look at the suspects mentioned in the past, at the Bulls, at Jimmy Butler. I think you have to look again at Jahlil Okafor in Philadelphia, a guy who is very much available. I think you can even consider the possibility of Kevin Love. Those are three guys I would certainly keep my eye on in the coming weeks," Mannix said.
