The Boston Celtics are better than many expected them to be this season.
We’re nearly at the halfway point of the current campaign and the Celtics sit second in the Eastern Conference standings, despite the fact that star forward Jayson Tatum has missed the entire season due to an Achilles tear.
What once seemed like it could be a wasted season in Boston now could be an opportunity to contend in a seemingly open East, and the Celtics don’t want to waste it.
Celtics have expressed interested in Jaren Jackson Jr.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Celtics have expressed interest in Memphis Grizzlies star forward Jaren Jackson Jr., who was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2023.
The Grizzlies haven’t made Jackson available in trade talks as they have with Ja Morant, but some teams around the league are hopeful that could change before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
From Scotto:
“Amid Ja Morant trade talks, Jaren Jackson Jr. Remains a player the Memphis Grizzlies want to build with, according to an ESPN report. However, that stance hasn’t stopped various teams across the league from registering interest in Jackson Jr, including the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics, league sources told HoopsHype.”
The logic in outside interest in Jackson is simple. Teams are hoping that if the Grizzlies ultimately trade Morant, they’ll decide to undergo a full-fledged rebuild and opt to trade Jackson, too.
Specifically, Boston's interest in Jackson makes sense, as they could certainly use some frontcourt fortification following the recent departures of Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis.
The two-time All-Star still has four years and over $200 million remaining on his current contract, including a player option for the 2029-30 season. So any team looking to trade for him would have to be willing to make an enormous, long-term commitment. And that’s if the Grizzlies were to make him available, which hasn’t happened yet. Ultimately, the Celtics might have to look elsewhere for some frontcourt help.
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- Dillon Brooks blasts Grizzlies for how he was treated by team