Hoops Wire

Category: Celtics

Latest Boston Celtics Rumors and News.

  • Jrue Holiday Linked to 76ers, Celtics, Heat and Clippers

    Jrue Holiday Linked to 76ers, Celtics, Heat and Clippers

    The Trail Blazers managed to trade Damian Lillard, sending him to the Bucks in a three-team deal with the Suns.Jrue Holiday drives by Kyle Lowry

    Now, it seems, they are aiming to move Jrue Holiday — acquired from Milwaukee — as well. Portland is focused on its young guard core of No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe. So that leaves little room for Holiday, as much of a winner as he is.

    And it’s his ability to lead and win that makes him appealing to so many contenders. The list reportedly includes the 76ers, Celtics, and Heat, who struck out on Lillard.

    Of all these, perhaps the Sixers would make the most sense. They are trying to avoid a messy situation at training camp and the preseason with James Harden, who also requested a trade, specifically to the Clippers.

    As Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote, the Sixers could land Holiday and send Harden to the Clippers, with picks and perhaps random pieces going back to the Blazers. Then again, maybe the Clippers will just end up going after Holiday, wrote Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

    Also, the Celtics very well could explore a pursuit of Holiday, per Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe. They too have a sticky situation on their hands with Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, who reportedly is upset with how the team handled his elbow injury.

    Interestingly, the Celtics tried to trade Brogdon to the Clippers, but the deal ended up getting nixed, supposedly because of that very elbow.

    Anyway, it’s just another day in the NBA, where another key player is almost always on the move. For now, Holiday is the man so many teams would like to land.

    But if takes the Blazers anywhere near as long to trade Holiday as it took to trade Lillard … well, let’s just say it may not happen overnight.

  • Celtics Officially Sign Lamar Stevens to Camp Deal

    Celtics Officially Sign Lamar Stevens to Camp Deal

    As expected, the Celtics have officially signed forward Lamar Stevens, according to the RealGM transactions log.Lamar Stevens

    Stevens, 26, is 6-foot-6 and landed a non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 deal from Boston, per Luke Adams of HoopsRumors.

    He appeared in 62 games for the Cavs last season, starting 25 and averaging 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds, shooting 45 percent from the field. He also served as a reliable perimeter defender and a guy who made plays that didn’t show up on the stat sheet.

    Being undrafted out of Penn State, Stevens had his initial two-way deal with the Cavs upgraded to a standard contract, which led to him appearing in 165 games over the last three seasons. Starting in 25 of 62 games last season for the Wine & Gold, Stevens averaged 5.3 points (44.8% FG) and 3.3 rebounds in 18.1 minutes per game.

    During the offseason, Stevens’ non-guaranteed team option with the Cavs was picked up. However, he was then traded with Cedi Osman to the Spurs by way of the three-team sign-and-trade deal that sent Max Strus to Cleveland. In that transaction, Stevens received a $400,000 partial guarantee of his contract with the Cavs, but the Spurs waived him before his $1.9 million salary for the upcoming season became fully guaranteed. 

    — By Sam Amico and Brandon Santomauro 

  • NBA Transactions: Tuesday 9/26

    NBA Transactions: Tuesday 9/26

    76ERS

    TIMBERWOLVES

    • The Timberwolves re-signed small forward Matt Ryan to a two-way contract. (HW)

    NETS

    PACERS

    • The Pacers signed guards Craig Sword and Pedro Bradshaw to training camp contracts. (HW)

    CELTICS

    • The Celtics signed forward Lamar Stevens to an Exhibit 9 training camp contract. (HW)

    CLIPPERS

  • Celtics Signing Ex-Cavs Forward Lamar Stevens

    Celtics Signing Ex-Cavs Forward Lamar Stevens

    The Celtics are signing former Cavaliers forward Lamar Stevens, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.Lamar Stevens

    Since becoming a free agent this offseason, the Heat, Timberwolves, Rockets, and Celtics were among the handful of teams that were showing interest in Stevens, as covered by Sam Amico earlier this week.

    Stevens, 26, looks to bring his defensive prowess and intensity to Boston, which he showcased in Cleveland as a key role player. Being undrafted out of Penn State, Stevens had his initial two-way deal with the Cavs upgraded to a standard contract, which led to him appearing in 165 games over the last three seasons. Starting in 25 of 62 games last season for the Wine & Gold, Stevens averaged 5.3 points (44.8% FG) and 3.3 rebounds in 18.1 minutes per game.

    During the offseason, Stevens’ non-guaranteed team option with the Cavs was picked up. However, he was then traded with Cedi Osman to the Spurs by way of the three-team sign-and-trade deal that sent Max Strus to Cleveland. In that transaction, Stevens received a $400,000 partial guarantee of his contract with the Cavs, but the Spurs waived him before his $1.9 million salary for the upcoming season became fully guaranteed. 

    Important to note, that the Celtics have made some big moves since coming up short in the Finals in 2022, such as signing Jaylen Brown to a five-year, $304 million supermax extension. Notably, the Celtics’ new roster will also feature former Wizards forward Kristaps Porzingis, acquired via trade.

    Consequently, after dealing away defensive anchors in guard Marcus Smart and forward Grant Williams this offseason, the Celtics look forward to having Stevens fill that role of being a versatile defender off their bench. Ahead of training camp, Stevens will vie for playing time with other role players such as Sam Hauser and newly signed Oshae Brissett.

  • Malcolm Brogdon Reportedly Not Happy With Celtics

    Malcolm Brogdon Reportedly Not Happy With Celtics

    Guard Malcolm Brogdon isn’t happy with the Celtics, though it doesn’t have anything to do with the fact they tried to trade him this summer, per Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.Malcolm Brogdon

    Instead, Brogdon suffered an elbow injury in the playoffs last season and doesn’t like how it’s been handled by the team’s medical staff.

    “I don’t think the bad feelings are over including him in any trade discussions,” Shelburne said during an appearance on NBA Today, via RealGM. “I think a lot of this has to do with what’s going on with his elbow.”

    Brogdon was expected to be traded to the Clippers in June as part of a three-team deal with the Wizards for forward Kristaps Porzingis. But the injury caused the Clippers to back out. Eventually, the Celtics landed Porzingis, but had to trade guard Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies to make it work.

    Brogdon appeared in 67 regular-season games, winning the Sixth Man of the Year award. But he missed Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals with what was called a partial tendon tear in his right elbow. He did return to play seven minutes in Game 7.

    Over the final four games of the East finals, Brogdon went just 1-of-15 shooting.

    He was acquired from the Pacers before the start of last season, then went on to average 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 67 games with Boston.

  • Celtics Officially Sign Neemias Queta

    Celtics Officially Sign Neemias Queta

    The Celtics have officially signed center Neemias Queta to a contract ahead of training camp, the team announced in a press release.Neemias Queta

    Queta, 24, is 7-foot-0 and was waived by the Kings late last week, along with center Nerlens Noel.

    Queta appeared in five games with the Kings last season, and 15 the year before that as a rookie. The modest guarantee on his contract ($250,000) would have doubled had he been on Sacramento’s opening night roster.

    While there are no details on his deal with the Celtics, it’s likely an Exhibit 10 contract that could result in him playing for their G League franchise in Maine.

    Queta was selected by the Kings with the No. 39 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft after playing three years at Utah State. He carries career averages of 2.9 points and 2.1 rebounds in 20 total games.

  • Heat, Timberwolves Among Those With Interest in Lamar Stevens

    Heat, Timberwolves Among Those With Interest in Lamar Stevens

    The Heat, Timberwolves, Celtics and Rockets are among those showing interest in former Cavaliers forward Lamar Stevens, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.Lamar Stevens

    Stevens, 26, is 6-foot-6 and spent each of his first three seasons with the Cavaliers, before being traded to the Spurs this summer. The Spurs waived him shortly after the trade. He has remained an unrestricted free agent since.

    A hustling, physical player, Stevens appeared in 62 games last season, averaging 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds. He also served as a reliable perimeter defender and a guy who made plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet.

    Originally undrafted out of Penn State, he had his two-way contract converted to a standard deal in April 2021. 

    This is the second report of the Celtics’ interest, as Shams Charania of The Athletic reported back last month that Stevens had worked out for Boston.

  • Celtics to Sign Taylor Funk to Training Camp Deal

    Celtics to Sign Taylor Funk to Training Camp Deal

    The Celtics are signing former Utah State forward Taylor Funk to an Exhibit 10 training camp contract, per Bobby Manning of CLNS Media.Taylor Funk

    Funk is 6-foot-8 and played five years with St. Joseph’s before heading to Utah State as a grad transfer. He then went undrafted by the NBA.

    In 34 games with Utah State, he averaged 13.4 and shot 37 percent on 3-pointers. He played for the Heat in two NBA summer leagues, including Las Vegas.

    The Celtics now have 18 players under contract with the start of camp less than a month away.

    An Exhibit 10 contract counts toward the preseason roster, but the regular-season roster unless the player is signed to a standard deal. So look for Funk with the Maine Celtics of the G-League.

  • East Notes: Celtics, Derrick White, Pistons, Cade Cunningham, Bucks

    East Notes: Celtics, Derrick White, Pistons, Cade Cunningham, Bucks

    Celtics

    The Celtics will need to find a replacement for starting guard Marcus Smart, traded to the Grizzlies as part of the Kristaps Porzingis deal with the Wizards.

    And per Sherrod Blakely of Full Court Press, guard Derrick White will likely get the first crack.

    “(Smart’s) departure leaves a gaping hole, not only in terms of what he brought to the table talent-wise, but more specifically what his presence meant to this team both in terms of a playmaker and an elite defender,” Blakely wrote. “While it’s to be determined who will replace him, it’s clear as day that first up to do so will be Derrick White.”

    Blakely then takes a deep dive into what the Celtics might look like and expect with White as the starter. You can read the full newsletter here.

    Pistons

    Guard Cade Cunningham will need to stay healthy and take the next step for the Pistons to improve on last season’s 17-win season and start to show promise, wrote Sam Vecenie of The Athletic.

    “It’s 100 percent right that Cunningham’s play this season is the critical factor for the Pistons,” Vecenie wrote. “We have extremely positive signs about how that is going to go following his performances at Team USA camp this summer. But Cunningham is the centerpiece of the rebuild, and the NBA is a star-driven league — and has arguably never been more star-driven than it is now. It’s hard to find teams that don’t have a proven star or a potential star. For the Pistons to make that leap, Cunningham needs to be the guy.”

    Added James L. Edwards III of The Athletic: “There can’t be 17 wins again. A budding star needs to make himself known. Youth is still prevalent on the roster, but that didn’t stop other organizations from taking a leap last season. Detroit, a legacy franchise, must plant the seeds this season for a better life moving forward.”

    Bucks

    Is it time to start over for the Bucks? David Thorpe of True Hoop attempted to answer that question with his thorough examination of Milwaukee’s roster and future.

    Thorpe’s post was based on recent comments made by star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.

    “There will never be hard feelings with the Milwaukee Bucks. […] I believe that we’ve had 10 unbelievable years, and there’s no doubt I gave everything for the city of Milwaukee,” Antetokounmpo said, via Tania Ganguli of the New York Times. “Everything. Every single night, even when I’m hurt. I am a Milwaukee Buck. I bleed green. I know this.

    “This is my team, and it’s going to forever be my team. I don’t forget people that were there for me and allowed me to be great and to showcase who I am to the world and gave me the platform. But we have to win another one.”

    You can check out Thorpe’s full breakdown here.

  • Kyrie Irving Trade, Completed Six Years Ago Today, Flopped for Cavs, Celtics

    Kyrie Irving Trade, Completed Six Years Ago Today, Flopped for Cavs, Celtics

    On this day in 2017, the Cavaliers granted Kyrie Irving his wish.LeBron James holds the ball as Kyrie Irving defends

    It was a move that Irving forced, demanding a trade or reportedly threatening to have surgery and sit out the season. So then-GM Koby Altman (now president of basketball operations) sent Irving to the Celtics for a package that included point guard Isaiah Thomas, forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and the Nets’ 2018 first-round pick.

    It’s safe to say the deal was a bust — for both teams.

    Irving, LeBron James and the Cavs won a championship in 2016. They fell short the next year, but had reached the Finals again, losing to the Warriors after they added Kevin Durant. Still, the Cavs seemed to be a move away.

    Rumors began to circulate that they were thinking of making a splash and trading for that piece. A younger Paul George, then with the Pacers, was among those reportedly being explored.

    We don’t know if any of that is true, of course. But word is, Irving heard these rumors, too. We don’t know if they played a role in him demanding a trade.

    Others said Irving had grown weary of playing in James’ shadow. That may have been true. During one game back in 2017, James dribbled up the floor and Irving’s father could be heard shouting from the stands. “Get the ball to the point guard!” he said.

    In other words, signs of Irving not being thrilled playing alongside James began to emerge.

    So off he went to Boston and the drama ensued. He never took the Celtics any further than they had already gone without him. Injuries and general annoyances from his teammates made the Celtics want to ship him out almost as quickly as he arrived.

    As for the Cavs, Thomas and Crowder just never really fit (Thomas was coming off hip surgery) and Zizic was a throw-in who never played. Things were so rocky that the Cavs turned around and traded Thomas and Crowder in February to reshape the roster around James yet again.

    They got back to the Finals, for a fourth straight year, losing to the Warriors yet again. After the season, James bolted for the Lakers in free agency.

    But it all started with the Irving trade. Some theorize that James and Irving would have at least one more championship in Cleveland, and perhaps more, had everyone just been patient, got along, and stayed together.

    So yes, the constant moving around may have actually hindered the title aspirations of Irving and James. 

    And it all began on this day six years ago, when Irving insisted he’d never play for the Cavs again.

  • Celtics Work Out Glen Robinson III, Others

    Celtics Work Out Glen Robinson III, Others

    The Celtics recently brought in free agent guard/forward Glen Robinson III for a workout, per Ian Begley of SNY.tv.Glen Robinson III

    Boston has been active in auditioning veterans over the past week or so, with reports that they are also working out forwards Lamar Stevens (Cavaliers), T.J. Warren (Suns) and Louis King (76ers).

    Robinson, 29, is 6-foot-6 and last played in the NBA during the 2020-21 season, when he appeared in 23 games with the Kings. He has also spent time with the 76ers, Pacers, Pistons, Warriors and Timberwolves.

    He was waived by the Kings in February 2021.

    Stevens, 26, is 6-6 and spent each of his first three seasons with the Cavaliers, before being traded to the Spurs this summer. The Spurs waived him shortly after the trade.

    A hustling, physical player, Stevens appeared in 62 games last season, averaging 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds. He also served as a reliable perimeter defender and a guy who made plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet.

    Originally undrafted out of Penn State, he had his two-way contract converted to a standard deal in April 2021. 

    Warren, 29, is 6-8 and undoubtedly the biggest name of the bunch, mostly because of his play in the NBA Bubble in 2020 while with the Pacers, when he averaged a career-high 19.8 points. 

    He suffered knee and foot injuries after that, though, appearing in just four games the following season and missing all of 2021-22.

    In 42 games with the Nets and Suns last season, Warren averaged 7.5 points on 45 percent shooting and 80 percent from the free-throw line.

    King, 23, is 6-7 and appeared in one game last season with the 76ers. He has also spent time with the Kings and Pistons since entering the NBA in 2019, with career averages of 4.8 points and 1.6 rebounds.

  • Blake Griffin Drawing Interest From Celtics, Others

    Blake Griffin Drawing Interest From Celtics, Others

    Multiple teams are expressing interest in free agent power forward Blake Griffin, including the Celtics, per reports.Blake Griffin

    Griffin, 34, appeared in 41 games with the Celtics last season, averaging career-lows of 4.1 points and 3.8 rebounds. But his experience, hustle and team-first approach won him the favor of the coaching staff and some of his teammates.

    “Boston is unbelievable,” Griffin said on Barstool Sports’ Fore Play podcast, via Clutch Points. “Living in Boston, playing in Boston, was like one of the best experiences. Dude, the fans are incredible.”

    It is believed the 76ers and Warriors are among some of the other teams interested in Griffin, as may be the Clippers, the team with which Griffin’s career began. He has been an All-Star five times, the last coming with the Pistons during the 2018-19 season.

    While he may not be the top-level performer he once was, someone somewhere is likely to sign Griffin before camp tips off in late September/early October.

    As for the Celtics, it sounds as if Griffin would have no issue in a return.

    “The players on that team are just like such a great group of guys,” he said. “Like a guy like Jayson Tatum, he’s a legit superstar. And he’s just so humble and talks to everybody on the team and talks to the whole staff.”

  • Celtics Working Out Lamar Stevens, TJ Warren, Louis King

    Celtics Working Out Lamar Stevens, TJ Warren, Louis King

    The Celtics are holding free agent workouts with free agent forwards Lamar Stevens and T.J. Warren this week, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.Lamar Stevens

    Free agent forward Louis King is also working out with Boston, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

    Stevens, 26, is 6-foot-6 and spent each of his first three seasons with the Cavaliers, before being traded to the Spurs this summer. The Spurs waived him shortly after the trade.

    A hustling, physical player, Stevens appeared in 62 games last season, averaging 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds. He also served as a reliable perimeter defender and a guy who made plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet.

    Originally undrafted out of Penn State, he had his two-way contract converted to a standard deal in April 2021. 

    Warren, 29, is 6-8 and undoubtedly the biggest name of the bunch, mostly because of his play in the NBA Bubble in 2020 while with the Pacers, when he averaged a career-high 19.8 points. 

    He suffered knee and foot injuries after that, though, appearing in just four games the following season and missing all of 2021-22.

    In 42 games with the Nets and Suns last season, Warren averaged 7.5 points on 45 percent shooting and 80 percent from the free-throw line.

    King, 23, is 6-7 and appeared in one game last season with the 76ers. He has also spent time with the Kings and Pistons since entering the NBA in 2019, with career averages of 4.8 points and 1.6 rebounds.

  • Celtics Expect Kristaps Porzingis to be Ready for Training Camp

    Celtics Expect Kristaps Porzingis to be Ready for Training Camp

    New Celtics forward Kristaps Porzingis won’t be playing for Latvia at the FIBA World Cup because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot, but he should be ready for training camp.Kristaps Porzingis addresses reporters.

    The Celtics said as much in a press release, saying Porzingis is beginning a rehab process that’s expected to take 4-to-6 weeks.

    Porzingis indicated that he is indeed disappointed to not be able to represent Latvia — which also has Thunder forward Davis Bertans on the roster — in the World Cup. But at least Boston’s biggest offseason acquisition won’t be out to the start the season. Or so it seems.

    “It is difficult, I feel very responsible to myself and the supporters of the Latvian national team, but a decision has been made that I will not play in the World Cup,” Porzingis wrote in Latvian. “After several weeks of recovery and a repeat MRI examination, the plantar fasciitis of my foot still prevents me from being on the field in full readiness.

    “This joint decision has been made by both the medical staff and coaching staff of the national team, as well as the Celtics team — with the advice and opinion that it is now necessary to continue the recovery process. Such a decision is not easy to make, but I promise that I will be there and support the team as much as I can.”

    Porzingis, 28, came over from the Wizards in a three-team trade that also involved the Grizzlies. Last season, he averaged 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 65 games. That was the most he played in a single year since his rookie season of 2016-17.