NBA Rumors: Paul George To Celtics, Derrick Rose Staying With Knicks
Many pundits feel the Boston Celtics, with a surplus of young aspiring talent, are one superstar away from being considered a legit championship contender. And according to a report on HNGN, that missing piece might be coming their way in the form of Paul George.
“Though they got one of the biggest acquisition last summer in Al Horford,” the article begins. “The team looks to be restless trying to come up a formidable lineup.” That’s where a proposed trade was revealed.
“And with many tradeable assets at their disposal…a proposed trade deal is suggesting that the Boston Celtics will send Jae Crowder, Amir Johnson, Kelly Olynyk plus four future draft picks to the Indiana Pacers for Paul George.”
The article also commented on the steep price George will be garnering but concluded it’s absolutely worth it.
“Though the Celtics are sending a bunch of players plus future picks to acquire one, many believe that the offer matches the value of George as a player. The 3-time NBA All-Star might be the player Boston are looking for. He is currently averaging 20.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 12 games he has played this season.”
The Celtics have been a surprise team under GM Danny Ainge and first time NBA coach Brad Stevens over the past few seasons. But now in his fourth year, it’s officially established that Stevens is a coach on the rise. He’s made the most out of a mostly young unit as was evidenced the other night against the Sacramento Kings, as reported by CSN NE.
“When the fourth quarter rolled around on Friday night, the Boston Celtics found themselves in a down-to-the-wire fight with the Sacramento Kings. It was the kind of game that in the past has brought out the scrappy, get-it-done-somehow brand of basketball that has in many ways come to define the Celtics under fourth-year coach Brad Stevens.”
Meanwhile, another coach who’s starting to make his mark is the New York Knicks Jeff Hornacek. After a somewhat rocky beginning, the Knicks have pulled themselves above.500 for the first time this season after hanging on during a home and home against the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday night. The hero of the night was on the defensive side of the ball, lead by bench player Kyle O’Quinn, according to the New York Times.
“Although Towns and Porzingis roamed the court, the best big man on the floor was Kyle O’Quinn. It was a breakout performance for a five-year veteran with a pedestrian résumé and no distinguishing trait other than his bushy beard.”
As mentioned above, the win pulled the Knicks to a 10-9 record and is a testament to the work Hornacek is doing with the club. While this is not Jeff’s first year coaching in the league, it is his first with the Knicks. GM Phil Jackson made several offseason moves to help bolster his roster with the signing of Joakim Noah and the trade for Derrick Rose. The former Bulls greats help bolster a lineup that already sees both Carmelo Anthony and emerging second-year man Kristaps Prozingas on the roster.
And speaking of Rose, the New York Daily News is reporting that the 28-year old free agent-to-be is loving his time so far playing for the Knicks and wants to stay put when the season ends.
“For them to want to do it or for them to want to talk about it, it would let me know I’m on the right track,” the 28-year-old said before continuing his praise of his experience thus far.
“Being in the city, experiencing the way I’ve been experiencing it, and having the freedom that I have. I think it’s only a few places I can live in the States where I can have that much freedom and being here.”
[Featured Image by Andy Lyons/Getty Images]
