There is a chance that the Boston Celtics could land someone before the trade deadline, with Isaiah Thomas reportedly recruiting a player who approached him about potentially joining the 17-time NBA champs.
Thomas, a first time All-Star, claimed he was approached by an unnamed player who was asking about the Celtics amid the team's surprise success this season. The 27-year-old point guard also revealed how Celtics head coach Brad Stevens has become a selling point for Boston.
"I told him just how exciting it is, even if the weather's not too cool," Thomas said, reports Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald.
"Guys haven't asked about Brad, but they say that the plays he comes up with out of timeouts is ridiculous."
It is no secret why the Celtics is considered as the top destination in the trading season, and even in the summer. The Celtics are currently third in the East with a 32-23 record and effectively playing one of their best basketball in recent years without the aid of a legitimate superstar.
In this year's trading season, the Celtics have a real chance of getting a superstar or a quality player, with the team loaded with assets in David Lee's expiring contract and 2016 first round draft picks.
However, despite having the pieces, the Celtics have yet to strike a deal despite being linked to available players in the market.
But one possible deal the Celtics could swoop before the deadline is Atlanta Hawks big man Al Horford, who has been the center of trade rumors in the recent weeks.
According to CSNNE's Chris Mannix, Horford is a legitimate possibility for the Celtics and one of the guys general manager Danny Ainge has been excited about.
"He is a 4-man that would fit right into what Boston is trying to do," Mannix said as reported by Booth Newspapers. "It will cost a lot of money to re-sign him in the offseason, but I think Boston's willing to pay it because they haven't paid a lot of money for players in recent years."
However, Mannix also revealed that Hawk's asking price for Horford is "borderline ridiculous," which means Atlanta probably wants some of the Celtics' core players involved in a package.
Any deal the Celtics could devise would surely include Lee and future draft picks. But if Atlanta is looking for more valuable pieces, Boston should probably start looking for another available player who could help them for a stronger campaign in the postseason.