Boston Celtics uninterested in trade for former top overall pick: Report

The Boston Celtics are uninterested in trading for former No. 1 overall NBA draft pick Deandre Ayton according to MassLive’s Brian Robb — who reported that a Malcolm Brogdon trade to the Suns is dead following the completion of a trade that’s sending Bradley Beal to Phoenix for Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, future pick swaps, and future second-round draft picks.

“The Celtics have no interest in an Ayton deal per a league source due to his pricy contract so any scenario that involves Brogdon going to Phoenix now is dead without a third team getting involved,” Robb prefaced before saying, “Phoenix could involve moving Ayton elsewhere but don’t look for Boston to get involved unless Ayton’s going to a different team.”

Boston lacked a third big man who can regularly contribute in the postseason behind Al Horford and Robert Williams III, but taking on Ayton’s remaining $102 million salary with a looming $295 million Jaylen Brown supermax isn’t logical and isn’t likely.

Deandre Ayton passes the eye test but wouldn’t be a good Boston Celtics culture fit

Even if Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck decided to sign off on trading for Ayton and pay whatever taxes that would follow, the culture fit for the Arizona product in the C’s locker room would be questionable. While Ayton stuffs the stat sheet, his impact is oftentimes underwhelming in the postseason when his easy offense in the paint should be opening up the team’s shooting along the perimeter.

Bringing in another top pick who demands the ball would take touches away from players like Brown and Jayson Tatum who will be making multiple hundreds of millions and taking up the team’s cap space for years to come. Complementary players on smaller deals is ideal alongside the Jays, but even a similar player like Kristaps Porzingis makes more sense than Aytn considering the Latvian’s expiring deal. Tying up long-term money for Ayton simply shouldn’t be a thought right now.