Report: Grizzlies Pursuing Jeff Green In Possible Trade
BOSTON (CBS) - Another Boston Celtic could be on the move.
According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the NBA's Southwest Division-leading Memphis Grizzlies are looking to add to their team, and they are reportedly trying to obtain Jeff Green of the Boston Celtics or Luol Deng of the Miami Heat ahead of the February 19 trade deadline.
Stein reports that no deal is imminent, but "the Grizzlies are intent on upgrading their wing rotation."
Green could certainly help the Grizz, giving them a nice scoring option from the wing. The former Georgetown star is averaging a career high 17.6 points per game, best on the Celtics.
Green was taken 5th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Celtics, but was later involved in a trade that sent him to the Seattle Supersonics, and landed the Celtics Ray Allen and the fifth pick in the second round, which would later become Glen "Big Baby" Davis (#35 overall).
Green spent one year in Seattle before the franchise packed their bags and moved to Oklahoma City.
In the 2010-11 season, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge pulled off what still remains one of, if not the most controversial decisions of his tenure.
Prior to the February 25, 2011 trade deadline, Ainge traded fan-favorite Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson to Oklahoma City for Jeff Green, Nenad Krstic and a future first round pick. Ainge parted ways with Perk because he banked on the health of Shaquille O'Neal for the playoff run, which never materialized.
Green was considered the heir-apparent to Paul Pierce, which also never really materialized. Green missed the entire 2011-12 season after being diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm, which required surgery.
Green is currently in the third year of a four year contract worth a total of $36 million.
The Celtics traded Rajon Rondo, the last remaining player on the 2007-08 championship team, back on December 18, 2014.
Ainge has showed a willingness to do whatever is necessary to acquire assets and rebuild the C's, and if that means trading Jeff Green too, then he probably wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger.
According to the Stein report, the trade for Jeff Green or Luol Deng would likely also include the $7.7 million expiring contract of Tayshaun Prince and future draft compensation from the Grizzlies.
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