After a weekend of speculation, rumors and changes to a trade involving the Boston Celtics, Jeff Green and the Memphis Grizzlies, the deal is finally official.
The three-team deal will see Jeff Green and Russ Smith end up with the Grizzlies, Tayshaun Prince, a conditional 2019 first-round draft pick and Austin Rivers heading to Boston and Quincy Pondexter, plus a 2015 second-round draft pick ending up with the New Orleans Pelicans.
In addition, Memphis will receive a traded player exception.
The focus of the deal for the Celtics’ side of things is to unload asset in the attempt to rebuild the historic franchise back to it’s glory days. Early on Friday, the C’s sent newly acquired Brandan Wright to the Phoenix Suns for a future protected first round pick.
Green has averaged a career-high 17.6 points to go with 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 33.1 minutes in 33 games with the Celtics this season, shooting .434 from the field, .305 from three-point range and a career-best .840 from the free throw line. He has scored 10-plus points 29 times, 20-plus points 10 times and 30-plus points twice, including a season-high 35 points on November 3 against the Dallas Mavericks, and has one double-double.
Prince averaged 7.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 24.3 minutes in 26 games for Memphis this season. The 34-year-old shot .420 from the field, .455 from three-point range and .833 from the free throw line. He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2002 NBA Draft. The Compton, California native holds career averages of 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 32.3 minutes in 908 games for the Pistons and Grizzlies.
Rivers has averaged 6.8 points, 2.5 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 22.1 minutes in 35 games this season for the Pelicans. Taken in the first-round (10th overall) by the New Orleans Hornets during the 2012 NBA Draft, Rivers has spent his entire career with the New Orleans organization. In 165 games, the guard averages 6.9 points, 2.3 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 21.4 minutes.
The speculation is that Austin will be soon sent to the Los Angeles Clippers in a deal that would bring the guard to a team that is run by his father and former Celtics’ coach Doc Rivers. No official word on that deal as of yet.
Boston has accumulated 11 first-round picks over the next four drafts. Things are looking up for the future of a great franchise. The number of picks and needs on the roster shows the C’s are far from done.
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