Apparently, the Boston Celtics desires to trade for DeMarcus Cousins have come to a halt after the Sacramento Kings suggested their big man wouldn’t be going anywhere come the NBA trade deadline.
The same can’t be said for Paul George of the Indiana Pacers and Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls, both of whom the Celtics are preparing to trade for.
That’s the word from Yahoo Sports’ (and soon to be ESPN’s) Adrian Wojnarowksi who says Danny Ainge and company aren’t focused on a trade for Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks but rather George and Butler.
Anthony has privately indicated an interest in listening to trades to those three teams, but the Knicks have been unable to find a trade package that they’re willing to accept, sources said. The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 23.
Boston’s shown minimal interest in Anthony, preferring to continue its pursuit of persuading Chicago (Jimmy Butler) and Indiana (Paul George) to engage in trade talks that involve two younger, more well-rounded stars.
There was an expectation around the NBA that Knicks management would start to search elsewhere for trade possibilities and bring Anthony different scenarios for his approval, but that process doesn’t appear to have begun, league sources said.
Few teams have more assets for a rebuilding franchise than the Celtics, so they certainly have the pieces needed to make such a trade if need be.
