The Boston Celtics are strongly expected to make a move ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline, multiple league sources told Brian Robb of MassLive.
The reported news of Boston’s willingness to be active in the trade market came after Sunday’s decision to guarantee four Celtics’ contracts — Luke Kornet, Dalano Banton, Lamar Stevens, and Svi Mykhailiuk.
While Kornet’s guarantee will come as no surprise as he’s played meaningful rotation minutes this season, the Celtics primarily use Banton, Stevens, and Mykhailiuk if the team is shorthanded or on the right side of a blowout. Kornet, who has been used situationally this season by Boston coach Joe Mazzulla, is averaging 14.2 minutes per game, logging 5.1 points and 3.7 rebounds.
Retaining the four non-guaranteed contracts puts the Celtics deeper into the luxury tax bill, showing fans that they aren’t afraid to spend money to win.
A source also told Robb that the C’s willingness to guarantee the four contracts is not a guarantee that those four players will stay in Boston this season. The four contracts give the Celtics flexibility in negotiations and salary matching, allowing Boston to package multiple league minimum contract players with another rostered player for a more expensive player, thanks to the $6.2 million trade exception left from Grant Williams’ sign and trade t
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