The Boston Celtics have already made the move many folks were expecting to make ahead of the trade deadline when they reportedly dealt Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Nikola Vucevic and a second-round pick. However, they are still expected to be active in trade talks until the deadline strikes.
With Simons no longer in town, that means the C’s could use some more backcourt depth, as they don’t have many options to turn to behind Derrick White and Payton Pritchard. One low-cost target the team has been linked to previously was Cleveland Cavaliers’ guard Lonzo Ball.
On Wednesday afternoon, it looked like the Celtics had missed out on Ball, as he was dealt to the Utah Jazz. However, the Jazz are set to release Ball after the trade goes through, which could allow Boston to sign him on a cheap deal for the rest of the season.
“The Jazz are expected to waive Lonzo Ball, allowing him to be a free agent, sources tell ESPN,” Shams Charania reported shortly after news of the trade was made public.
Once a promising point guard, Ball’s career has largely been derailed by injuries. His numbers this season (4.6 PPG, 4 RPG, 3.9 APG, 30.1 FG%) aren’t anything to write home about, but he still is a solid playmaker who can come off the bench and run the offense when called upon.
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If Ball could rediscover his shooting stroke from behind the arc (he shot 42.3% from three in the 2021-22 campaign), he could quickly become a very valuable player. Ball will likely have several suitors, but the allure of a solid role for a contending team could appeal to the former No. 2 overall pick.
