Rumor: Jeff Green 'Being Shopped Hard' By Celtics
BOSTON (CBS) - The NBA trade deadline is just 11 days away, and it looks like the Celtics are making a strong push to trade forward Jeff Green.
Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News reported Sunday night that Green is "being shopped hard by Danny Ainge and the Celtics," with the Atlanta Hawks interested in the 27-year-old forward.
Lawrence notes that 6-8 forward DeMarre Carroll would be involved in a Celtics-Hawks swap, with another player or two likely heading back to Boston to make the trade work. Green is set to make $9.2 million each of the next two seasons, while Carroll is making $2.5 million for 2013-14, so other parts will need to be involved to make salaries match (possibly Elton Brand and his expiring, $4 million contract). It's also highly unlikely Ainge would trade Green without getting at least one future draft pick in return.
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Green has led Boston with 16.3 points per game this season, but the Celtics have been begging to see more consistency out of their top forward. With the team rebuilding for the future, they may be ready to move on from a player who looks like an All Star one game but a role player the next.
Carroll was a first round pick of the Memphis Grizzlies in 2009, selected 27th overall out of Missouri, but has played on five different teams in his five NBA seasons. He is averaging a career-high 10.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season, and is set to earn $2.5 million again next season.
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The Celtics may be able to get a better deal elsewhere for Green closer to the deadline, but the Hawks could sweeten their offer in hopes of making a push in a weak Eastern Conference. They currently sit a game above .500, but are the fourth seed in the East.
The NBA trade deadline is 3 p.m. on February 20.
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