It appears Jeff Green’s Boston Celtics career finally has reached the end of the line.
Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday, citing league sources, that the Celtics and Grizzlies are “nearing an agreement” that would send Green to Memphis in exchange for veteran swingman Tayshaun Prince and a first-round draft pick. Wojnarowski later added that the sides are waiting to hear from a third team in the deal before it’s finalized.
The teams hope to finalize the trade Friday night, per ESPN’s Marc Stein.
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Wojnarowski reported that the Celtics previously wanted a bigger haul for Green.
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Green has been the subject of trade rumors for ages, and that speculation only has intensified after the Celtics traded Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks last month, ostensibly signaling the start of a full-on rebuild.
If this deal goes through as reported, Green would join a Grizzlies team that entered Friday with the NBA’s fourth-best record (25-10). Memphis boasts a devastating frontcourt duo in Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph and one of the league’s best on-the-rise point guards in Mike Conley, but its wing players have struggled in the scoring department this season.
Tony Allen, Vince Carter, Quincy Pondexter and Price all are averaging fewer than eight points per game.
Green, meanwhile, leads the Celtics in scoring with 17.6 points per game. The 28-year-old has seen his numbers dip since the Rondo trade, however, and he has failed to reach double figures in three of his last five games.
Friday was a busy day for the Celtics, as they reportedly also agreed to trade newly acquired forward Brandan Wright to the Phoenix Suns for what likely will become two second-round picks. As Wojnarowski points out, Boston could have as many as 11 first-round picks at its disposal over the next four drafts.
UPDATE (9:50 p.m. ET) — According to Wojnarowski, the trade hinges on a third team entering the mix, and that third team could be the New Orleans Pelicans.
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