Paul George (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics may be among the favorites to trade for a talented player before the deadline, and recent rumors have linked Paul George as the potential target.
It is no secret that the Celtics are still looking to add another All-Star caliber talent to their roster to speed up any hopes of contending for a championship. With plenty of tradable assets in their possession, Boston could be among the few teams who could pull off blockbuster deal any time before the February 23 trade deadline.
While the Celtics have yet to confirm any moves, they have already been linked to several players available in the market and those guys who are unlikely to get trade this season like Indiana Pacers star Paul George.
George has established himself as the Pacers' franchise player, and Larry Bird may have no plans of moving him because of the new CBA. But according to Andrew Sharp of Sports Illustrated, if Indiana realizes rebuilding around Myles Turner is the team's "endgame," the Celtics may emerges as a possible landing spot for George.
"The Celtics could offer multiple picks (including a top-3 Nets pick) and Jae Crowder (signed through 2020), which comes very close to a fair haul for Indiana. It'd give fans a chance to see George rejuvenated on a contender, it'd make the East twice as interesting for the next few years, and it'd give the Pacers an excellent headstart at building a new foundation," Sharp wrote.
George, who has career averages of 17.4 points on 42.7 percent shooting from the field, is one of the premiere two-way players in the league, and playing for a disciplined fairly talented team like the Celtics would make the Cs legit title contenders. A starting core of Al Horford, Avery Bradley, Isaiah Thomas and George should give Boston enough firepower to topple teams like the Raptors, Warriors, Spurs and Cavs.
However, Basketball Insiders writer Jesse Blancarte believes the Celtics could only opt for "marginal upgrades" as they may hold onto their assets after the season.
"With Isaiah Thomas playing at superstar levels and the rest of the team playing within their respective roles, Ainge may opt to make marginal upgrades while holding onto his major assets for after the season," Blancarte noted.
The Celtics need key players if they wish to stay afloat the Eastern Conference, but sacrificing some of them could be considered if it would get them a player like George. And while the Pacers are not expected to field offers for George at this point, Boston has all the resources to make a blockbuster deal happen.
Video courtesy: YouTube/FreeDawkins
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