Get ready, Boston Celtics fans. We could be in for a very interesting summer.
The “fireworks” many Celtics supporters hoped for last offseason never materialized, as the team failed to land its reported top target, current Cleveland Cavaliers big man Kevin Love, and instead settled on acquiring a few role players in Evan Turner, Tyler Zeller and Marcus Thornton.
The Celtics are preparing for another highly active offseason, though, and Love isn’t the only big fish they plan on going after, according to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders.
“The Celtics have a ton of cash and are geared up to use it,” Kyler wrote Tuesday. “Target number one is Kevin Love. Target number two is (Detroit Pistons forward) Greg Monroe. Sources close to the process say the Celtics plan to swing for the proverbial fences this summer including runs at (Memphis Grizzlies center Marc) Gasol, (San Antonio Spurs wing Kawhi) Leonard and (Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy) Butler, too.”
That’s quite the wish list, and while some certainly would be more attainable than others (Gasol reportedly is unlikely to leave Memphis, for example), the Celtics’ extensive collection of draft picks, young players, trade exceptions and cap space gives C’s president of basketball operations Danny Ainge plenty of options.
Kyler also mentions in the same article that “the sense is that” Boston will re-sign forward Brandon Bass, an impending free agent, at a much lower rate than the $6.9 million he’s making this season and let both Jonas Jerebko and Luigi Datome — who were acquired in the deadline trade for Tayshaun Prince — walk.
Thumbnail photo via Russell Isabella/USA TODAY Sports Images
