Boston Celtics: 3 potential sellers at the deadline the Cs should monitor

Potential seller Boston Celtics should monitor #3: Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers have struck gold this offseason, getting a top-two prospect in the draft with the number three overall pick and netting Ricky Rubio for essentially nothing. On top of their established young core, they have multiple veterans that contenders will be monitoring as the season progresses, praying they can pry them from Cleveland’s grasp for cheap.

The Boston Celtics will be one of those teams looking to strike a deal with the Cavs at the deadline.

Cleveland will spend another year in the lottery, hoping to steal another foundational piece in the draft to put beside Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and possibly Colin Sexton. As their roster stands, guys like Larry Nance and Ricky Rubio will serve as veteran backups to their younger peers but ultimately contradict the direction of the team. That’s why the Cavs will look to part with them at the deadline despite both being highly productive and impactful role players.

The Boston Celtics could use both Rubio and Nance, as they lack high-level passing and quality power forward depth. Rubio is on an expiring $17.8 million deal, a strict number to match but one the Cs will be interested in since it doesn’t impact their free agency plans.

They could pair Josh Richardson with one of their younger pieces to secure the veteran point guard, but it may be unlikely that the Cavs budge since it doesn’t make much sense to bring another veteran guard back when they are trading one away.

On the other hand, Nance will be more accessible to the net since his contract nearly fits in the Thompson TPE. The Boston Celtics wouldn’t have to send salary back, and they might not even have to send any players back if the Cavs want an open roster spot and draft capital.

Many teams will be after Nance if he makes it to the deadline, so if the Celts need to pony up a first or one of their young players, it would be in their best interest to do so if their rivals are in the bidding war with them.