Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
The Jazz’ young big man has been losing playing time to Rudy Gobert, who’ll come much cheaper. Kanter is a free agent and the Jazz has locked up Gordon Hayward, Alec Burks and Derrick Favors. He said he’d like to be traded. The Celtics have been most rumored chasing big men and the Bucks are said to be interested as well. Another Celtics’ big man rumor floating around during All-Star weekend has been their pursuit of All-Star DeMarcus Cousins. There is no indication he’s available from the team, but the speculation has been he and George Karl won’t work together and Karl wants to play faster without a low post center. So Boston is rumored to give it a try. Hey, who thought they would get Kevin Garnett? The Kings have been offering Jason Thompson around for most of the last two seasons and rarely used rookie Nik Stauskas. But that could change with Karl.
Sam Smith generated rumors generally fall on the lower end of my “likely to happen” scale, but it’s trade deadline week so nothing is off limits, especially a rumor involved the enigmatic and talented DeMarcus Cousins.
I can’t imagine the Kings would trade their franchise player days after committing to George Karl. Wouldn’t Karl want a crack at Cousins before dumping him?
The Herald’s Steve Bulpett considers the Celtics longshots to trade for Denvers’ Ty Lawson (yesterday’s name du jour) or the grumpy Enes Kanter in Utah. Bulpett reminds us that there could be a big benefit even if the Celtics play a lesser role in deals:
There are a number of reasons why this role of basketball midwife could be advantageous for the Celts, but it may be best to explain by boiling it down to two words.
Tony Allen.
Back in 2004, the C’s stepped in and helped the Pistons get Rasheed Wallace from Atlanta. That maneuver was critical for Detroit, which went on to win that season’s NBA championship. (We’re still not sure whether Danny Ainge ever got a ring — but he should have.)
And it’s not like the Celtics came away empty-handed for their kindness. They were given a first-round pick for their trouble, and that pick wound up being Tony Allen, who helped the C’s to the 2008 championship before being let go (too soon) as a free agent in 2010.
Who can forget the Chucky Atkins era in Boston? Hunter never played a game in green, he was waived and later re-signed by Detroit.
But you see the point – Patience.
Related: ESPN Boston – Celtics at deadline: Ready and opportunistic
The rest of the links:
Herald – Midseason report cards |ESPN Boston – C’s up 3 spots in power rankings | CSNNE – Blakely’s 3 points for Celtics playoff push | CBS Boston – Grading the guards
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