NBA Rumors: Boston Celtics Interested In Suns' Mickael Pietrus?

Mickael Pietrus has a bit of a history with the Boston Celtics, ranging from scuffles with Kevin Garnett to the team potentially being interested in adding his services at last season's trade deadline.

Now, according to Pietrus, the Celtics are once again interested in bringing him into the mix.

"Phoenix didn't use me, but that's their problem. I'm going to continue working. The only thing I care about is winning a title... A lot of teams are interested in me, like the Lakers or the Celtics. This came from the best player in the world: Kobe Bryant. He told me two months ago that he would like to see me with the Lakers." (via HoopsHype)

Pietrus has played eight seasons in the NBA, averaging 8.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and has a career 43.1 percent shooting touch from the field. Drafted No. 11 overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, Pietrus played his first five seasons with the team before signing as a free agent with the Orlando Magic on July 10, 2008.

Pietrus played in Orlando for just over two seasons before he was traded to the Phoenix Suns, where he played 38 games and averaged 7.4 points and two rebounds last season.

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NBA Rumors: Boston Celtics 'Never Close' To Trading Any Of Big Four

Thursday night's NBA Draft involved a plethora of multi-team trades, one of them involving the Boston Celtics. GM Danny Ainge decided to trade the twenty-fifth overall pick in the draft, Providence guard Marshon Brooks, to the New Jersey Nets for Purdue forward JaJuan Johnson, the No. 27 overall selection and a 2014 second-round pick.  

Even though Ainge and the Celtics were active on the trade front, no trades involved the Celtics core of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo. According to Comcast SportsNet New England's A. Sherrod Blakely, Ainge was "never close" to trading any of the Big Four.

We heard earlier this week that Ainge would be open to trading anyone on the aging roster, including Rondo.  With players such as Chris Paul and Dwight Howard set to hit the free agent market next offseason, the Celtics might look to clear some cap space in order to afford at least one big name.  As it stands now, it appears the Big Four will be around for at least one more season.

For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit our team page and blog, CelticsBlog 

NBA Draft Rumors: Boston Celtics Willing To Trade No. 25 Overall Pick?

With the 2011 NBA Draft just a few hours away, the rumor mill is working overtime. One of the latest rumors has the Boston Celtics thinking about unloading their first round draft pick, No. 25 overall, in exchange for a younger player.

The Celtics are open to moving out of the draft altogether if they can trade their pick for a young player. The Celtics have a $2.4 million trade exception that would allow them to take back a young player without having to send anything in return other than the 25th pick. (via ESPN)

Ford indicates that the Celtics are taking hard looks at both Jimmy Butler of Marquette and Reggie Jackson of Boston College, both of whom have been linked to Boston during the NBA Draft process.

Butler, who played four seasons with the Golden Eagles, averaged 15.7 points and 6.1 rebounds last season. Butler also averaged 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 34.5 percent from three-point range.

For more 2011 NBA Draft coverage, visit SB Nation and follow our StoryStream.

NBA Rumors: Boston Celtics Haven't Talked To Hawks About Josh Smith

The rumor mill exploded on Tuesday with news that Hawks forward Josh Smith wanted out of Atlanta and had listed the Boston Celtics as one of the teams he wanted to play for.

Smith, who averaged career-highs in points (16.5 PPG) and rebounds (8.5 RPG) last season, is one of the league's better power forwards, but the Celtics reportedly aren't interested in adding him, according to CSNNE.com.

A league source told CSNNE.com on Monday night that the Celtics have had "no discussions whatsoever" with the Atlanta Hawks about acquiring Smith. The same source added there were no plans to open up such dialogue any time in the near future.

"You can never say never," the source said, "but there's nothing going on there."

A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE also pointed out that Boston doesn't have a lot to offer the Hawks in return for Smith ,with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen being the biggest potential trade chips.

For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit our team page and blog, CelticsBlog.

NBA Trade Rumors: Danny Ainge Looking To Move Rajon Rondo (Again)?

NBA Rumors: Good Idea For Boston Celtics To Pursue Josh Smith?

The rumor mill has been spinning Tuesday morning, with word that Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks is reportedly done with the team and is interested in playing for the Boston Celtics, among other teams.

But would it be a good move for the Celtics to pursue Smith? The short answer is, absolutely.

Smith, a high-flying 6'9", 225-pound forward, is a superstar caliber player who has proven to be a consistent contributor all throughout his seven year career. Smith averaged a career-high 17.3 points and 8.9 rebounds with the Hawks last season. In his career, Smith has scored 7,805 points and collected 4,136 rebounds in 534 games.

I'm getting ahead of myself here, but I can already envision all of the Rajon Rondo-Josh Smith alley-oops that would take place. Isn't that enough reason to go out and get Smith?

Of course not. Still, Smith would benefit the Celtics greatly, as adding another young phenom alongside Rondo would help the Celtics bridge the gap between the Big Thee era and points beyond.

The problem is, players like Smith don't come cheap. Smith is owed $25.2 million over the next two years and $13.2 million next in 2012, according to Spotrac. The Celtics don't have that much wiggle room financially, and they would have to rid themselves of some big contracts.

The first of which would most likely be Kevin Garnett. At $21.2 million, Garnett has the fourth-highest salary in the NBA in the 2011-12 season.Looking back, Garnett was worth every penny, considering that he helped bring a banner back to Boston.

However, Garnett is way past his prime, and if you can find a suitor willing to take him, it's certainly worth looking into.

The Celtics' next biggest contract is that of Paul Pierce, who will bring home $15.33 million next season. There is absolutely zero chance that Pierce gets traded, as he has been the heart and soul of this organization for the past decade.

That brings us to Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo, both of whom are scheduled to make $10 million next year. Allen still appears to have a lot of basketball left in him, and Rondo is locked in with the Celtics for the foreseeable future.

Hawks general manager Rick Sund is a big fan of Garnett and Allen, so if the deal were to go down, it's safe to assume that one or both of those players would likely be on the move.

The other issue is the fact that Celtics GM Danny Ainge doesn't appear to be ready to shut the door on the Big Three era, and has made it known that he thinks this group has a lot of productive time left together.

Despite the drawbacks, Smith to the Celtics would still be a net gain for a franchise that is gripping to its aging superstars for dear life. With Smith on board, the C's would be better positioned for the immediate future and beyond.

For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit our team page and blog, CelticsBlog.

NBA Trade Rumors: Josh Smith Reportedly Interested In Boston Celtics

Josh Smith, who has played seven seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, has reportedly listed the Boston Celtics as one of the teams he is interested in playing for. Smith has not requested a trade, but league sources indicated that he told his inner circle that his time in Atlanta has run its course.

Smith hasn't requested a trade, but has privately told league friends that the Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic are his preferred destinations should the Hawks decide to move him. (via Yahoo! Sports)

Smith, a forward, would fit in nicely with the Celtics, but it wouldn't be easy for the cash-strapped C's to acquire the young phenom. Smith is owed $25.6 million over the final two years of his contract.

Who would the Celtics have to give up for Smith? It's no secret that the Hawks' general manager, Rick Sund, is a fan of two members of the 17-time champions in particular.

Hawks GM Rick Sund has long coveted Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen - two aging Celtics entering the final years of contracts - but Celtics GM Danny Ainge has yet to show an inclination to break up his core for next season.

It would be tough for Ainge to break up the Big Three, but in the long run, trading Garnett and Allen for Smith could be extremely beneficial for Boston, as the duo of Rondo and the high-flying Smith could prove to be lethal.

For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit our team page and blog, CelticsBlog.