Trade targets: All 30 teams
Boston Celtics
Record: 32-23
3rd place in East
Status: Buyers
The Celtics are perfectly positioned as buyers entering the trade deadline period. Team president Danny Ainge has a deep roster with good chemistry and is not under immediate pressure to swing a deal. But if he wants to pursue a big trade, his cupboard is stocked with talent and multiple future draft picks, including two unprotected firsts from Brooklyn. No team is in a better spot to snag a star if one becomes available.
Potential trade targets
Blake Griffin
He's most likely not getting moved, but Boston's potential package of Jae Crowder, Avery Bradley and draft picks has to be an attractive offer to the Clippers.
DeMarcus Cousins
If and when the Kings decide to move on from the Cousins era, Boston is a logical destination. Cousins has long been connected to Boston in the rumor mill and would give the Celtics the centerpiece talent that could bring their roster into focus. The Celtics have a strong organizational culture with which to surround Cousins, if Ainge and head coach Brad Stevens want to accept the challenge.
Rudy Gay
The Celtics have the role players and wing defenders that could help balance the Kings' roster. Meanwhile, Gay would give the Celtics a legit No. 2 scorer and the ability to play big on the wing or team Gay with Jae Crowder in a versatile frontcourt.
Hassan Whiteside
Whiteside will be a free agent, and if his financial ambitions are beyond Miami's limits, Boston makes sense as a trade partner. He could shore up the Celtics' defensive rebounding and rim protection deficiencies, keeping the defensive rating elite while giving Stevens the flexibility to play offensive players around him.
Most trade value
1. Marcus Smart
The Celtics still haven't seen enough of Smart to know what he's going to become, but he'd be a building block for a club looking to hit reset.
2. Isaiah Thomas
Thomas could play a Vinnie Johnson-like role on a title contender. Boston depends on his shot creation but long term, you'd like more of a two-way player at his position.
3. Jae Crowder
Never have 3-and-D players been more valuable, and truly impactful producers of that type are really hard to find. Crowder is the prototype for the job.
4. Kelly Olynyk
Olynyk has emerged as a dangerous stretch option at the big-man positions. He holds up well enough on defense that he'd slot perfectly next to an elite, rim-protecting center and, best of all, he's still on his rookie contract.
5. Jonas Jerebko
A bit underutilized in Boston, Jerebko has struggled offensively this season except when it comes to shooting the 3-ball. He also sports a positive defensive RPM and has a team-friendly contract. This is your fallback when you want Ryan Anderson but can't get him.
6. R.J. Hunter
Hunter's playing time as a rookie has been sporadic and we've only gotten glimpses of the perimeter-scoring ability that stirred Boston to nab him in the first round last June. If Boston trades him or frees up more playing time for him, we might see him on the floor later this season.
7. Amir Johnson
Even in today's climate of a rising salary cap, Johnson's $12 million price tag is a bit unwieldy. But if you need a rim runner and shot blocker, he's a good one and the year left on his deal after this season is non-guaranteed.
Most valuable draft pick
Brooklyn's 2016 first-rounder
Boston has benefited in numerous ways from Ainge's 2013 trade that sent Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Nets. But this could be the biggest payoff yet -- a bona fide shot at consensus No. 1 pick Ben Simmons or the almost-equally-coveted Brandon Ingram. Hard to see Ainge using this one as trade bait before the lottery.
Toughest contract to trade
David Lee
Lee's skillset could make him attractive for a contender that has a corresponding piece to send back or gets the help of a third team using cap space to gather draft picks (ahem, Sixers). Lee would boost the Clippers' bench, for example. But fits for a $15.5 million rental player are few and far between.
Player most likely to be traded
Evan Turner
Turner's versatility might have value on a team with such a need. His deal is expiring, so you'd expect a similarly expiring deal in return.