The Boston Celtics and Greg Monroe long have been linked. But according to a new report, the Celtics apparently were in no rush to negotiate with the former Detroit Pistons big man.
As of roughly 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, the team had not reached out to Monroe, guard Gerald Green or center Robin Lopez, according to the Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett. All three have been mentioned as potential Celtics targets, and Monroe said earlier this week he planned to meet with Boston.
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Bulpett added the C’s “did, in fact, make dutiful pitches to representatives of the top free agents, knowing full well most are staying in place and that LaMarcus Aldridge is staying out west.”
One of the said top free agents, per Bulpett’s sources, was forward Kevin Love, who on Wednesday announced he’d return to the Cleveland Cavaliers on a reported five-year, $110 million contract.
“Look, Kevin’s first choice is to stay with Cleveland, and I have no doubt that’s going to get worked out,” one source told Bulpett before Love’s announcement. “But I think Kevin’s liked Boston for a while as a place to play. If their roster was more ready to win right now, maybe there’s a chance we’re having a different conversation. And maybe he’d be going back to Cleveland no matter what. All I know is that a lot of teams wanted in on him, and Boston was one of the only ones he spoke to.”
Bulpett also mentioned, citing “sources from other teams and within the player rep community,” that the Celtics are “in play” for free agents Tobias Harris and Corey Brewer, but that “there are salary and length-of-contract parameters for each that Boston will not exceed.”
The Celtics on Wednesday reportedly agreed to terms with forwards Amir Johnson (two years, $24 million) and Jonas Jerebko (two years, $10 million). The second year of both deals is non-guaranteed, per Bulpett.
Thumbnail photo via Raj Mehta/USA TODAY Sports Images
