The Boston Celtics have officially continued their fire sale, following up trades of Rajon Rondo and Brandan Wright by now sending forward Jeff Green to the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team deal that also includes the New Orleans Pelicans.
Here is how the trade breaks down for each team, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein:
- Celtics get Tayshaun Prince and first round draft pick (from Grizzlies), Austin Rivers (from Pelicans)
- Grizzlies get Green (from Celtics), Russ Smith (from Pelicans)
- Pelicans get Quincy Pondexter and second round draft pick (from Grizzlies)
The deal fulfills a huge need for Memphis, giving them a strong wing scorer to replace the anemic offensive output of Prince as the Grizz push for one of the Western Conference’s top spots. Green can also play the power forward spot in small ball lineups, which until now was an area where Memphis was especially vulnerable.
The Pelicans will get a decent bench piece in Pondexter, who is in the first year of a four-year, $14 million extension he signed early last season. Given that Rivers is going to be a free agent this summer, the swap gives NOLA a solid and affordable bench player they know will be there for multiple seasons, plus a free draft pick to either use and hope the player pans out or flip in future deals.
The Celtics are in full-on dump mode with their veterans, and with Green likely to exercise his $9.5 million player option next season there’s no way Boston wanted to pay him all that money just to help a bad team win a couple extra games. Prince is possible buyout candidate, and the Celtics will have added yet another first round pick to their massive stockpile of draft choices (which includes as many as 11 first round picks in the next five years). As for Rivers, it doesn’t sound like he’ll ever wear the green:
While Austin Rivers appears headed to #celtics, NBA source said he may not stay with team. Stay tuned.
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) January 10, 2015
Furthermore, it sounds like his destination is already basically set in stone:
Looks like Austin Rivers will be sent to Clippers, I'm hearing.
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) January 10, 2015
Austin Rivers going to play for his father Doc Rivers in Los Angeles? Without a doubt, this deal happening would be the most anybody has ever talked about Austin Rivers.
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[via TK]