The Boston Celtics are reportedly "overvaluing" players such as Brandon Bass, Jeff Green and Avery Bradley, which may make it difficult for Boston to complete a trade before the deadline. Another report indicated Jared Sullinger is "the one guy" Boston is unwilling to trade.
NBA insiders believe Boston will be an active team leading up to the trade deadline. Looking to rebuild, the Celtics are reportedly open to any deals that would net them future draft picks. One deterrent for potential trade partners, according to Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix, is the Celtics want more than their players are worth.
"I've had conversations with a couple of different general managers last night, and we talked a little bit about Boston and what they were trying to do at the trade deadline, and the sense I got from them was that Boston is totally overvaluing some of the players they have," Mannix said Wednesday on WEEI's "Dennis & Callahan" show. "They're looking for first-round picks in return for guys like Jeff Green or a guy like Avery Bradley and others and they're just not going to get it."
Mannix also said Bass, who's frequently mentioned in trade rumors, is an overvalued player who "nobody really wants."
Despite Celtics president Danny Ainge's insistence the team won't trade Rajon Rondo, Mannix joined the growing number of insiders who believe Ainge would part with the All-Star for the right price.
The one player Boston reportedly won't part with, however, is second-year pro Sullinger.
Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News echoed Mannix's report of teams being uninterested in going all-out for Celtic players and added Sullinger, from what Sefko heard, is the only untouchable player on the roster.
"Not sure any of their players hold any real infatuation, other than Rondo (too pricey) and Sullinger (the one guy they want to keep)," Sefko said on Tuesday, via The News.
The NBA trade deadline is on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
