NBA trade deadline buzz: Nets make offer for Celtics forward Paul Pierce
The Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets have discussed a trade for Celtics star Paul Pierce, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
The Nets' willingness to a deal centered on forward Kris Humphries, guard MarShon Brooks and a first-round draft pick, but the Celtics want a more substantial package to consider moving Pierce, league sources said.
"The Celtics still highly value Pierce and it wouldn't make sense to trade him for that kind of a package if they're keeping Kevin Garnett," one league source said.
Boston has shown interest in forward Mirza Teletovic and securing another possible first-round pick, but the Nets have shown no inclination to pay that steep of a price for Pierce.
The Nets and Celtics discussed a deal for Pierce at the 2012 trade deadline, but the Celtics decided to keep him for another playoff run. Pierce, 35, is averaging 18 points for the Celtics this season, shooting his worst from the field – 41 percent – in the past eight seasons.
Boston had interest in guard C.J. Watson in a separate deal, but Brooklyn doesn't want to part with him, sources said.
For now, the Los Angeles Clippers have terminated talks with the Boston Celtics on a Kevin Garnett for Eric Bledsoe and DeAndre Jordan trade, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
The Celtics have been eager to continue the conversation on the deal, but league sources said the talks will remain dormant unless Clippers star Chris Paul pushes the issue with management.
Several prominent executives and coaches with championship contenders told Yahoo! Sports they believe the Clippers would become more dangerous with Garnett.
Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro is a proponent of the deal, too, sources said.
The Celtics won't consider moving Garnett to the Clippers for any other combination of players, and won't revisit the talks unless Bledsoe and Jordan are in the package, sources said.
Boston hasn't approached Garnett to waive his no-trade clause without an agreement in place, but there's strong belief he would ultimately agree to it. What's more, Boston could simply trade Paul Pierce and leave Garnett with even less desire to finish his career with a young, rebuilding roster.
[Watch: Possible movers at NBA trade deadline]
Boston is balancing the parallel considerations of finding a way to add to its core for a playoff run, or disassembling its aging veterans to start the process of rebuilding again.
If the Celtics trade Garnett before the deadline, they would move Pierce, too, sources said. For the Celtics, the chance to get Bledsoe and Jordan could be a prelude to trying to package Pierce in a possible deal to the Atlanta Hawks for Josh Smith, sources said.
The Hawks also have discussed sending Pierce onto a third team in some previous conversations around the league. The Nets are trying to make a deal for Smith, too, and have offered Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, and either a future first-round pick or the draft rights to Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic, sources said.
Despite intentions to keep free-agent guard J.J. Redick this summer, it's unlikely the Orlando Magic will be his highest bidder come July 1.
Sources say Redick's agent, Arn Tellem, will likely start the bidding at four years, $40 million for Redick on the free-agent market.
Redick won't get that kind of a deal, but teams with interest in the guard tell Yahoo! Sports they could be willing to pay him in the range of $7 million annually. Redick has great value for contending teams who understand how far he grew under former Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. His ability to make shots comes at a premium in the NBA.
[Also: Kobe Bryant would have been a Piston if not for Jerry Buss]
Indiana, Milwaukee, Chicago and Minnesota have expressed interest in trading for Redick, but teams have been reluctant to give up a first-round pick and a good young player for a player who could turn into a rental for the rest of the season.
The Philadelphia 76ers could be a real possibility for Redick in free agency, sources told Yahoo! Sports. Redick has a strong relationship with coach Doug Collins, the father of his close friend and Duke assistant coach, Chris Collins.
The Minnesota Timberwolves were turned down on an offer of Brandon Roy and a first-round pick to Denver for center Timofey Mozgov, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Denver is combing the market further for offers on Mozgov. He will be a restricted free agent this summer, and the emergence of Kosta Koufos could make it hard for Denver to match an offer sheet for Mozgov.
The Timberwolves are trying to include Roy's contract into offers, selling the non-guaranteed value of his 2013-14 year as an appealing factor. Roy is rehabilitating his knees, and neither the Wolves, nor Roy, truly expect he'll be able to play again in the NBA, sources said.
Timberwolves GM David Kahn has been interested in negotiating a buyout with Roy, presumably as a way to show owner Glen Taylor he can get some money back on a failed free-agent signing.
A buyout could possibly come after the trade deadline, if Minnesota is unable to use Roy's contract to balance out the money of a trade.
[Watch: Who can beat the Heat?]
Teams who'd consider including Roy in a deal understand that he's unlikely to ever play again, sources said.
Minnesota has offered multiple first-round picks for established wing players in the league, sources said.
Behind a glut of power forwards, the Houston Rockets are showing a willingness to move rookie Terrence Jones for a first-round draft pick, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
The Rockets selected Jones out of Kentucky with the 18th pick in June and he's shuttled between the Development League and Houston most of the season. Jones has played minimal minutes in 11 games for the Rockets.
The Boston Celtics have made rookie 7-footer Fab Melo – the 22st pick in the 2012 Draft – available in trade discussions to fortify their backcourt, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
If Boston decides against dealing its major core players to disassemble and start the rebuilding process, Melo could help the Celtics get back a guard to replace the injured Rajon Rondo and Leandro Barbosa. The Celtics are trying to make short-term moves that don't cut into their current playing rotation or future stash of draft picks, sources said.
Melo has shuttled between the Celtics and D-League affiliate Maine, where he has averaged 11 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 blocks a game. Melo left Syracuse after his sophomore season.
The San Antonio Spurs will likely move forward DeJuan Blair close to the deadline, ultimately accepting the best final offer for him, sources said. Blair has wanted a trade for more than a year, and clearly will not re-sign with the Spurs as a free agent this summer.
The Spurs had tried to canvass the market for a first-round pick, but have relented on that demand. The Spurs could get a second-round pick, or perhaps a player on an expiring deal in return. …The Charlotte Bobcats are offering guard Gerald Henderson to teams for a first-round pick. …Several teams are inquiring about Washington Wizards guard Jordan Crawford.
Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
• Yankees shouldn't brag about recent track record of homegrown arms
• Forde Minutes: College basketball coaches go a bit crazy
• Why Johnny Manziel only visits Texas A&M once a month