Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
The deal is expected to be finalized Tuesday morning. It became a bit more complicated, with Oklahoma City becoming involved in the swap. The up-to-date details, according to a league source:
Lee will head to Memphis, and Grizzlies guard Jerryd Bayless, a player Boston has coveted, will head to the Celtics. (Bayless arrived at the team’s hotel in Denver Monday night.) To help balance out the deal, Oklahoma City forward Ryan Gomes will return to the Celtics, who are then expected to waive him in an effort to create more financial flexibility. The Celtics will also send a 2016 second-round pick to the Thunder, who are moving Gomes to clear money off their books.
Since the Courtney Lee and Jerryd Bayless deal works 1 for 1, I’m sure why this became a threesome. Couldn’t the Ryan Gomes for a 2nd round pick be a separate trade?
Regardless, the Celtics are essentially moving the 2nd round pick for $800K in cap space.
I loved Gomes’ game during his two years in Boston (10 ppg, 5.3 rpg). He had a couple of decent seasons in Minnesota, but hasn’t done much the past three years.
Trader Danny might just be warming up. CSNNE’s Sherrod Blakely thinks Brandon Bass is next to go:
“When you look at the way this roster is put together, Brandon Bass seems the most logical guy to be on his way out,” Blakely said. “It has nothing to with performance, and everything to do with the fact that he’s a guy that can get a talented player in return. Like a guy like Omer Asik in Houston. Even though Houston has put off talks of trading him, I think those talks will rekindle once we get closer to the deadline. You also have to look at a guy like Gerald Wallace, and another guy Kris Humphries who is starting to up his stock as well.”
ESPN’s Chris Forsberg examines the Celtics salary situation for next season. Boston has $44 million committed to its roster with the cap standing at $58 million. Not enough cash to straight up sign a free-agent to max money, but we’re getting there.
The Cavs ended up shipping Andrew Bynum and his non-guaranteed money to the Bulls for Luol Deng and 3 future 1st round picks.
The rest of the links:
Herald – Sullinger manages injury | ESPN Boston – Tank Rank | Power Rankings | Slumping Celtics moving forward
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