Report: Paul Pierce Will Need to Be Traded for Celtics to Acquire Josh Smith From Hawks

The Hawks are reportedly telling teams that Josh Smith will be moved before Thursday’s trade deadline, and the Celtics are continuing to show interest in the Atlanta forward.

On Saturday, rumors arose of a trade that would send Smith to Boston in exchange for Jeff Green and Brandon Bass. That may not be enough to acquire Smith, though.

The Celtics would need to part with Paul Pierce to get the trade done, according to Marc Stein of ESPN. Trading youth would be counterproductive, and Kevin Garnett has said he has no intention of waiving his no-trade clause, so moving Pierce is likely the only way the C’s can get a trade in motion that would yield Smith.

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Smith is averaging 17.4 points and 8.6 rebounds this season. He and Rajon Rondo are friends from their time at Oak Hill Academy. The NBA trade deadline is Thursday at 3 p.m.