With the NBA’s summer free agency period rapidly approaching, clues to the directions the Boston Celtics may be interested in taking are starting to come into focus.
Writing on the direction the team might take based on different contingencies, Himmelsbach noted his sources say the team has been operating under the assumption that both point guard Kyrie Irving and big man Al Horford are gone, which isn’t a surprise to those observing their moves in the lead up to the draft up to now. However, the news Boston might not want Irving back even if he did an about-face is certainly notable.
More interesting is that Himmelsbach’s sources believe the Kemba Walker interest is real, implying they would be comfortable doing the necessary waiving of both guard Terry Rozier and forward Marcus Morris Sr., whose cap holds would otherwise prevent the signing. It also suggests the front office has a plan to restock the relatively barren front court, which would be even thinner in Mook’s absence.
Himmelsbach also reports that Boston has interest in Brooklyn Nets guard D’Angelo Russell should Irving displace the emerging young floor general, as has been suggested as likely by some even if Kevin Durant does not join Kyrie in Brooklyn. Nonetheless, Himmelsbach notes that it’s an unlikely path given the potential number of things which would have to happen to be feasible.
It’s possible that Russell, with a checkered past and with stints on two clubs with at least a friendly enmity with the Celtics, may have little interest in joining — or being asked to join — the team in reality. Similarly, the Kemba rumors may be two sides using to get to very different-than-advertised ends (Walker a bigger deal somewhere and Boston a different target).
On the bright side, with free agency beginning at 6 p.m. EST this Sunday, we may not have long to wait to find out.
