Carmelo Anthony (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics are reportedly looking to add a go-to guy, according to C's general manager Danny Ainge.
Chris Forsberg of ESPN said that Ainge is "most interested" in adding a player that would elevate the team Celtics' status as a legitimate title contender.
"I think the one thing that we could really use is a go-to scorer," Ainge said.
"We have some guys that have carried us -- Kelly [Olynyk has] carried us, Avery [Bradley has] carried us, Isaiah [Thomas has] carried us, [Jared Sullinger has] carried us at moments during the season, Evan Turner has carried us -- but it would be nice to find another player that's a reliable scorer at the end of games, night in and night out."
The Celtics are currently 10th in the Eastern Conference rankings with a 14-12 record. However, the competition in the East has surprisingly gotten tougher, with 10 of the 15 teams currently above .500 in winning percentage.
Bringing in a go-to guy who is not afraid to put the ball in his hands during crunch times would certainly boost the Celtics' chance for a playoff spot, eventually bringing back the glory to the 17-time world champions.
One perfect candidate in Ainge's wish-list is New York Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony.
Bill Simmons and Joe House discussed in the former's Podcast possible trades that could go down before the deadline, including a proposed deal that would send Anthony to Beantown.
Simmons suggested that the Celtics should trade away their 2016 unprotected draft pick from Brooklyn Nets, James Young, David Lee, and Jonas Jerebko for Anthony.
House believes this would be a great pick for the Knicks as they would have a chance to draft Aussie basketball phenom Ben Simmons, who is considered as consensus top pick in next year's rookie draft.
Moreover, New York does not look like a team that would crack into the playoffs with the way they are competing in the East. With that said, the franchise seems more inclined in building for their future thru the emergence of Kristaps Porzingis.
According to Ben Watanabe of NESN, Anthony would be "far from a pushover," but adding him to a "scrappy and defense-oriented" team could immediately be the key for the Celtics' to be relevant in contending for NBA titles once again.
"Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has never been one to stand pat when there is a deal to be made, so don't rule out a move - for Anthony or anyone else - at the moment you least expect it," Watanabe added.
