Boston Celtics & NBA trade/rumor tracker: Dennis Schröder, Marcus Smart, Ben Simmons rumors & more

The NBA trade deadline is this Thursday at 3:00 PM. This post will be a running thread of trades and rumors that are going on around the NBA and the Boston Celtics. Keep this page bookmarked and come back to it for rolling updates. 

CELTICS TRADE

Schröder out, Daniel Theis BACK!

According to multiple reports, Dennis Schröder, Enes Kanter Freedom, and Bruno Fernando are going out to Houston. Houston is waiving Freedom. Daniel Theis is coming back to Boston in the deal. 

John's quick take: This clarifies the White deal. Now we see Boston really taking a defensive identity. Marcus Smart will start, Derrick White will come off the bench to keep very similar defensive energy at the guard spot. Theis gives Boston a reliable defensive big that they're familiar with and who understands the defensive focus in Boston. 

There is more to do for Boston here. They are well below the roster minimum so they are either hopping into some of these other trades or there's something that hasn't been reported. Maybe Sam Hauser gets promoted. 

TRADE

Kristaps Porzingis to Washington

John's quick take: The Mavs turned the overpaid, inconsistent, Porzingis into the point guard they need and a big man who, historically has been able to space the floor. They didn't add anything defensively, but they didn't lose anything defensively. The Wizards seem to be embracing their free fall. Between Porzingis and Bradley Beal being out with injuries, they're just going to free fall and hope a good draft pick can help them with an offseason retooling.

TRADE

Montrezl Harrell to Charlotte

John's quick take: Nice get for the Hornets, who upgrade their center position offensively. However, it doesn't do much to fix their porous defense. Hornets really are going to have to outscore people now. 

TRADE

Torrey Craig to Phoenix

John's quick take: Nice move for the Suns to pick up a versatile wing for a big with promise but who can't get the playing time. This is a win-now move for the Suns and a move to for the future for the Pacers. This is a win-win for both teams. Smith played well in his time for Phoenix but with Ayton back and the Suns getting quality backup minutes from JaVale McGee and Bismack Biyombo, Smith was just buried. 

CELTICS TRADE

Josh Richardson to San Antonio

Per Shams Charania: 

Boston Celtics receive: Derrick White

San Antonio Spurs receive: Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford 1st round pick

John's quick take: This is a bit of surprise, and it seems to be the first of more moves to come. Richardson had established himself as a key role player for Boston. White is a bit of a Smart clone, so it will be interesting to see if they use White off the bench or as a Smart replacement.

TRADE

Harden to Philly is done

According to multiple reports

Philadelphia 76ers receive: James Harden, Paul Millsap

Brooklyn Nets receive: Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, two 1st round picks

John's quick take: The Sixers obviously get better. As far as this year's team is concerned, they traded Seth Curry and Andre Drummond for James Harden. Huge upgrade there. They don't waste an MVP-level season from Joel Embiid, and they are now at least co-favorites in the East. 

Brooklyn rids itself of a malcontent, adds a shooter to replace Joe Harris, and an elite defender in Simmons. there will be some tweaking to figure out how he fits into their offense, but I'd project him to sort of be a ball-handling 5 in their offense. Both teams win here in my opinion. We might see these two teams meet in the conference finals if the Nets can get and stay healthy and if restriction ease to the point that Kyrie Irving can play. 

NBA RUMOR

Thybulle the hold up in Harden deal

John's quick take: This is a game of chicken. Someone will blink. This deal gets done today.

CELTICS TRADE

PJ Dozier, Bol Bol to Orlando

First reported by Adrian Wojnarowski

John's quick take: This was simply a cost-saving move. Boston now moves to about just about $3 million under the tax. This opens up two roster spots for Boston to try a buyout guy or if they move Schröder in a deal, they can bring back a guy who makes about $8 million and still be under the tax.

TRADE 

Goran Dragic heading to San Antonio

Per Shams Charania:

Toronto Raptors receive: Thad Young, Drew Eubanks, 2022 Pistons second-rounder

San Antonio Spurs receive: Goran Dragic, Toronto 2022 first-rounder (protected 1-14, protected 1-13 in 2023, turning into future seconds)

John's quick take: The Spurs are going to buy out Dragic, so they just did this for the picks. Young adds depth to Toronto's bench for their stretch run.

TRADE

Marvin Bagley Jr. headlines four-team trade

Per Adrian Wojnarowski: 

Sacramento Kings receive: Donte DiVincenzo, Trey Lyles and Josh Jackson

Milwaukee Bucks receive: Serge Ibaka, two future second-round picks, cash. 

Los Angeles Clippers receive: Rodney Hood, Semi Ojele 

Detroit Pistons receive: Marvin Bagley Jr.

John's quick take: The Kings are making their move to be a playoff team this year. Domantas Sabonis was good in their win last night, and the Kings are now 2.5 games from a play-in spot. DiVincenzo has struggled with his shooting this year, but he had been a starter for the Bucks. The Kings sent out Bagley, who is a classic "change of scenery" guy hoping a new situation can jump start his career. He's hoping he's not the guy people look at in the top five in the 2018 draft and compare to the Sam Bowie's of the world. 

The Clippers got some help around the fringes (maybe Semi can do something there?) and the Bucks got a big who can stretch the floor. 

CELTICS RUMOR

Dennis Schröder less likely to be moved? 

According to Steve Bulpett: 

Three quotes from NBA sources on Dennis Schroder, who was still a hot trade topic on Wednesday:

First: “Everybody talks about him getting moved, but not everybody has that ability to take that contract ($5.9 million), and not everybody has that need for a point guard.”

Then: “A lot of teams would really like to get Dennis Schroder, but the ones who have seem to get over it after a while.”

Another: “I still think they’d prefer to move him, but they want to get something they like.”

John's quick take: I'll break this down by quote. 

First: Salary matching rules for a $5.9 million salary allow for a player making about $3.3 million to be traded for him. it's not that hard to trade for a $5.9 million player if a team wants him. 

Second: I can see see that. I look at Schröder and think "I can see why the Lakers are all set." 

Third: Something they like? Get what you can and move on. 

The Celtics can't blow this. They brought Schröder in, him being on the floor pushed Smart out of position and took the ball out of Tatum's hands. Part of the team playing better has been him playing less. Move him, let Pritchard get his minutes, and move on. 

NBA RUMOR

Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier most likely Knicks to be traded by deadline

According to the New York Post's Marc Berman: "The Knicks have made the entire roster available for sale, with point guard Kemba Walker the likeliest candidate to move on. But Fournier and his $78 million contract also could be on the move."

John's quick take: The Knicks are in disarray and two moves they thought would help a struggling offense, signing Walker and Fournier, have not panned out. Each has his moments (Fournier especially against Boston), but neither has been able to offer anything consistent offensively or anything at all defensively. 

The Knicks thought they had something last year with their run to the playoffs, but it's starting to fall apart on them. At 24-31 and losers of four straight, it seems like anything is on the table. There may be takers out there for these guys, but the Knicks might have to start attaching assets to move them. 

TRADE

Miami Heat announce they have acquired a 2026 second round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for KZ Okpala.

"The 2026 second round pick will be the lessor from either Oklahoma City, Dallas or Philadelphia, which are owed to the Thunder. Additionally, the HEAT and Thunder have agreed to amend the protections of the first round pick already owed to Oklahoma City via the Clippers originally from Miami to a 2025 first round protected pick, and if not conveyed, to a 2026 unprotected pick."

John's quick take: The Heat are up to something. They gave up Okpala so they could adjust the protections on that pick. The previous protections on that pick prevented Miami from trading a first rounder this year or next. By adjusting this, they are freeing up a 2022 or 2023 first to be moved. You don't just do something like this just in case. They have something they're working on.

TRADE

Joe Ingles heading to Portland for Nickeil Alexander-Walker in 3-team trade

Per ESPN:

Portland Trail Blazers receive: Joe Ingles, Elijah Huges, 2nd round pick 

Utah Jazz receive: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Juancho Hernangomez 

San Antonio Spurs receive: Tomas Satoransky, 2nd round pick

John's quick take: Portland gets Ingles and his expiring $14 million. He just tore his ACL, so he's going to miss a significant amount of time. Hughes is a prospect that Portland can develop to see if he grows into a complementary piece next to Damian Lillard (if they are truly going that route). Hughes is a 6'5" forward who was selected in the second round of the 2020 draft. He got 41 minutes in a game a month ago and went for 26 points on 7-12 3-point shooting, so there's maybe something there either for them or to include in a trade. I'm sure they'll get him plenty of minutes the rest of the way to increase his overall value. 

The Jazz are looking for some help after the Ingles injury, and NAW could be a cheap answer. He's on a rookie deal and he has shown promise on both sides of the ball. Utah needs some help on both sides of the ball, and the Jazz are confident they can develop him into a strong piece for the future. At the same time, their future is now, so they're hoping he can step right in and give them something. 

The Spurs just like collecting foreign players and second-round picks. It's possible Satoransky gets a look in case they move on from one of their other guards in a different deal. 

NBA RUMOR

Per Brian Windhorst: James Harden wants out of Brooklyn 

"I can't tell you how much James Harden wants this," ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on Get Up, ESPN's Morning Show. He added. "He is screaming in every way he possibly can 'I don't want to be here, get me out of here."

You can watch it here: 

John's quick take: Windhorst says "they are in the deal zone right now," which means there is a whole lot of smoke here and I'm pretty sure I'm seeing some flames. If Windhorst is leaning towards this getting done, then this is probably going to get done. 

What a stunning turn for the Nets. This has worked out horribly for them, and I'm not sold that having Simmons there makes them stronger contenders. I will say that having a point guard who plays is better than having one who doesn't, and its certainly possible they start out using him correctly. I'm skeptical of what this could mean for Brooklyn. 

It could be a coup for the Sixers, who would get rid of a player they haven't seen for James Harden. I'd say this vaults them to the top of the East considering how Embiid's playing, though it depends on what they have to give up. 

INJURY

Bradley Beal will reportedly undergo season-ending surgery

According to multiple reports, Beal will have surgery to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his left wrist. This is the same injury Jaylen Brown suffered. 

John's quick take: This shouldn't impact this trade deadline since Beal was probably never getting moved. It's his non-shooting hand so he should come back fine. However, Beal's decision likely means Washington bottoms out and get a much better draft pick, which could influence Beal's long-term decision on whether to stay or go. If that player becomes a decent contributor, Beal could see enough promise to stick around at least a couple more years. That could change some plans over the summer for a few teams. 

TRADE

Per Woj: Kings and Pacers involved in multi-player swap involving Sabonis, Haliburton

Sacramento Kings receive: Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday, 2027 second round pick

Indiana Pacers receive: Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, Tristan Thompson

John's quick take: I'm shocked that the Kings gave up on Haliburton already. I'm also shocked that they gave him up for Sabonis. I figured that Haliburton would be at the center for a bigger trade, which means the Kings might simply be going back to the old standby of falling in love with a player and overvaluing him. 

That's not to say Sabonis isn't good and that getting Lamb and Holiday isn't decent. Those guys are okay. They have talent, but I'm not sure they fit any better. 

The Pacers are mid-rebuild, and getting Haliburton is one of the keys to their future. They can go either way with Hield, keeping him around to see if a change of scenery does him some good or turn around and flip him either now or over the summer. Hield's price over the next couple of days could be interesting. This could turn into a scenario where the Pacers stock up for the future.

They can just let Thompson walk.

CELTICS RUMOR

Per old friend Brian Robb, the Lakers are interested in Josh Richardson. 

"The team has been shopping a package of Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn and a future first-round pick now for several weeks in hopes of landing an impact veteran and sources tell MassLive that Horton-Tucker and a future pick has been offered for Richardson. That type of package could entice Boston if they are believers in Horton-Tucker’s upside."

John's quick take: Unless the Celtics think THT is a significant upgrade, then I'm not sure this is anything more than the Lakers desperately canvassing the league with their only assets trying to bring any help in that they can. An unprotected 2026 pick could make things interesting, seing as the Lakers could very easily be bad by then and Boston will have (if all goes according to plan) flipped into expensive contending team looking to add cheap help.

Four years from now, Tatum and Brown will actually be turning a corner and looking at back-third of their careers. Young help that can be a supporting cast then and eventually take over when they're gone could be attractive ... much like the picks that became Tatum and Brown a few years ago. Still, even that long-range kind of planning needs to be supported by some short-term gains and unless Boston thinks THT can slide right into the Richardson role, I'm not sure that's a deal that will get done. 

TRADE

Per ESPN: CJ McCollum to New Orleans

Portland Trail Blazers receive: Josh Hart, Tomas Satoransky, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Didi Louzada, 2022 protected 1st round pick, two 2nd round picks

New Orleans Pelicans receive: CJ McCollum. Tony Snell, Larry Nance, Jr.

John's quick take: The Portland tear-down is fully under way. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, Portland only has $68.6 guaranteed on the books next season and $28.3 million in partial/non-guaranteed deals. That means anything is in play, including flipping one of the players they just received. Portland's new front office will be busy. However...

We'll see how they pull that off? Are they acquiring assets to go for Bradley Beal? 

New Orleans gets another high-level scorer to help space the floor around Zion Williamson (whenever he returns) and Brandon Ingram. I'm interested to see what they do with Nance. They can keep him as he's under contract for one more season at only $9.7 million or flip him. 

CELTICS RUMOR

Celtics, Bucks have moved on from Dennis Schröder talks

Via Matt Moore, Action Network: "League sources said Sunday evening that Milwaukee and Boston had both moved on from talks, at some point."

John's quick take: It's not surprising that some reports conflict. The Bucks and Celtics could have been talking a while ago and a source knew about that, but not that the talks ended. It could also be a negotiating ploy to get a side back at the table. This week will be full of that kind of stuff. Still doesn't change my feeling that Schröder will get moved. 

CELTICS RUMOR

Marcus Smart targeted by Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks

John’s quick take (Hawks rumor): According to The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner, “Smart is someone the Hawks have been interested in for quite some time. It’s obvious why when you look at what is needed on this roster: more defense and more players who can create for themselves and others. Smart fills that need.”

Smart makes sense as a Hawks target, for sure, but will Atlanta give up what Boston would want? Smart’s resurgence makes his value to the team pretty clear, so the Hawks would have to pay a good price. 

It would have to start with Bogdan Bogdanovic and include more to make it worth Boston’s time because they’d be losing a leader and a guy who has built good chemistry with these guys. Even if you’re still a Smart hater, it’s become clear over the past couple of weeks that he has a rapport that would require a close examination of exactly how much is being lost in moving Smart versus what’s being gained with someone else. 

John’s quick take (Timberwolves rumor): 

Don’t see it at all. Not for Smart. Maybe for Josh Richardson, as has been rumored. This could be a bit of negotiation through the media, though, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Wolves and C’s figure something out. 

I think the recent string of success has made trading Smart less likely as he has proven his worth and then some. The question becomes whether moving Richardson is a viable alternative or if that would cause any locker room distress. 

John’s quick take (Mavs rumor): This comes from Brian Windhorst at the Hoop Collective, who basically says the Mavs have interest but there's no expectation for anything at the deadline. 

This would have to include Jalen Brunson, but because he only makes about $2 million and Smart doesn’t fit into any of Dallas’ traded player exceptions, they’d have to match salaries and I don’t see a deal for Boston that works, and Dallas may just extend Brunson instead.

John’s take on general Smart rumors: Every year there are teams that want him because he’s valuable and can bring a desirable attitude. Boston will always listen because he’s not untouchable, but he is highly valuable to them. Their price is always too high, so while he’s technically available, other teams never feel like they can justify what Boston is asking.

CELTICS RUMOR

Via Matt Moore of the Action Network: “There are two offers on the table for Dennis Schröder according to multiple sources, one from the Milwaukee Bucks and another from the Chicago Bulls.”

John’s quick take: Schröder is almost certainly gone. No matter how well he has played the past couple of games, it has always made more sense to trade him, acquire some assets (draft pick(s) or intriguing player), and celebrate turning a shockingly available cheap player into assets you didn’t have. Schröder was always found money, and is essentially the paper clip you start trading for a house. 

NBA RUMOR

Brooklyn Nets dismiss Sixers interest in Ben Simmons/James Harden swap

According to ESPN, the Sixers inquired about Harden in a phone call about a month ago and Nets GM Sean Marks dismissed it out of hand. That's been about it, as far as Harden talks.

John’s quick take: The only way this happens is if Harden explicitly tells Marks he’s not coming back. It could happen, but I still think the Nets are holding out hope that Kevin Durant’s return will help put Humpty Dumpty back together again. Harden didn’t force his way to Brooklyn for nothing, and one losing streak or rough patch isn’t going to be the death knell. 

Philly is banking on a realistic shot of landing Harden, so if this doesn’t happen, there won’t be a Simmons trade, in my opinion. They're hoping for a deal now, or in some kind of sign-and-trade this summer.

TRADE

Cleveland Cavaliers receive: Caris LaVert, 2nd round pick.

Indiana Pacers receive: Ricky Rubio, 1st round pick (lottery protected), two 2nd round picks.

John’s quick take: The Cavs are going for it, but this barely cost them anything. Rubio is out for the season and is no guarantee to return. LeVert makes $17.5 million this season and $18.7 million next season, and gives the Cavs a proven scoring threat. 

Even if this doesn’t work out and the Cavs want to refocus on the youth next season, they will be able to easily move his expiring salary. They can also extend him and make him part of the supporting cast moving forward.

The Pacers are starting a tear-down. Clearing a year of salary by picking up Rubio makes financial sense, and the picks can help in future trades or just trying to find some young talent. 

TRADE

Los Angeles Clippers receive: Norman Powell, Robert Covington

Portland Trail Blazers receive: Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson, 2025 second round pick

John’s quick take: The Clippers are getting some win-now help, hoping that Powell and Covington carry them for a bit before the final determinations are made on Paul George (elbow) and Kawhi Leonard (ACL recovery). Powell can also be some long-term help for the Clippers, giving them an experienced, proven wing they can rely on in a role he’s played before.

The Blazers are getting financial savings by getting under the luxury tax during a failing year, a look at an intriguing young player in Johnson, and a pick. They're retooling in Portland, so this will be one of many steps they take. If in the midst of everything they find a decent player, then that's a win for them.