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Eric Gordon headlines B/R’s Boston Celtics trade deadline targets

By Andrew Hughes

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 29: Eric Gordon #10 of the Houston Rockets defends Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the second half of the game at TD Garden on February 29, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Rockets defeat the Celtics 111-110 in overtime. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 29: Eric Gordon #10 of the Houston Rockets defends Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the second half of the game at TD Garden on February 29, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Rockets defeat the Celtics 111-110 in overtime. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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It’s hard not to think the Boston Celtics have a broken roster after watching them lose to the San Antonio Spurs and nearly lose to the Orlando Magic to begin 2022.

So far, things are not looking all too different than last year. It’s the same old Celtics losing as heavy favorites and barely closing the door on teams aiming to finish at the bottom of the standings.

Cap space won’t be at a premium this coming offseason after major investments in Marcus Smart and Robert Williams this past offseason, so the trade market has to be the means of improving the roster.

Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley came up with three trade targets to improve the roster. These include Eric Gordon, Terrence Ross, and Bryn Forbes. All three are feasible targets, so good on Buckley for the realism.

Eric Gordon is the most accomplished veteran of the group, having won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award back in 2017. At this point, the Houston Rockets make the least sense of any team in the league for Gordon given how young their core is and how far away from realistically contending they are.

Boston could pawn off unwanted salary and draft capital to get a deal done, but the drawback to Gordon is the long-term money you’d be signing up for in making a move for him. He’s in just the second year of a four-year deal, though his final season is non-guaranteed.

Bryn Forbes is a steady veteran hand who has bounced around the league, and his asking price would likely be similar to Gordon’s from a draft pick perspective. On an expiring deal, he’d be a good addition for a playoff run, but Boston would need to make damn sure they’d be in the position to benefit from a short-term rental that they most likely wouldn’t retain in 2022-23 and beyond.

Finally, Terrence Ross may be the best middle ground and most acquirable option. Like Forbes, he is on an expiring deal, but the Cs would own his bird rights and have the chance to extend his stay beyond this season should they fork up assets for him.

Will the Boston Celtics be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline?

Should Boston continue losing games they shouldn’t and fall further down the standings, maybe these targets aren’t part of their game-plan. There’s a darker timeline where the Cs actually become sellers instead, unable to avoid losing.

The next few weeks will determine the mood heading into the trade deadline, set to take place February 10th.

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