The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers apparently are wheeling and dealing again.
The Celtics helped pave the way for LeBron James’ return to Cleveland earlier this summer by acquiring Marcus Thornton and Tyler Zeller as part of a three-team trade involving the Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets.
Now the Celtics are shipping shooting guard Keith Bogans to Cleveland, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein and Jeff Goodman.
Stein first reported that the Celtics will receive the Cavs’ three non-guaranteed contracts — Erik Murphy, John Lucas III and Malcolm Thomas — while Goodman added that forward Dwight Powell will be included in the deal, too.
Murphy certainly is familiar with the area, as the 6-foot-10 power forward played high school basketball at St. Mark’s School in Southborough, Mass. Lucas, a 10-year-veteran point guard, has bounced around between the NBA and Europe, and Thomas, a 6-foot-9 power forward, was named to the NBA D-League All-Star team in 2013-14.
Bogans signed a three-year, $15.6 million contract with the Celtics before the 2013-14 season and will cost the Cavaliers $5.3 million this season. Bogans played in just six games for Boston last season.
UPDATE (9:20 p.m.): The Celtics have confirmed the trade, adding that they also will receive the Cavaliers’ second-round draft picks in 2016 and 2017 in the deal.
