Boston Celtics To Offer Sign and Trade Deal For Josh Smith of Atlanta Hawks
By Bryan Rose
Talk about a busy few weeks for the Boston Celtics.
In addition to losing head coach Doc Rivers, the Celtics now have to not only find a replacement but will need to figure out what to do with Kevin Garnett and the contract of Paul Pierce.
They also have to attempt to re-build their roster, which they’re planning to do by offering the Atlanta Hawks a sign and trade deal for forward Josh Smith.
Smith, who’s a free agent, was nearly traded to the Milwaukee Bucks at the NBA’s trade deadline in February and is extremely unlikely to return to Atlanta which has the Celtics salivating.
According to the Sporting News, the Celtics are ready to offer the Hawks a sign and trade which would bring Smith to Beantown, assuming they can secure a trade exception from a Paul Pierce deal:
"As for the rebuilding sure to follow the dismantling, that is contingent on what happens with Pierce. If the Celtics can unload Pierce to a team with enough cap space to absorb his salary, they will get a trade exception worth Pierce’s salary, or $15.3 million. And if that happens, the plan is already in place. According to a source, the Celtics have a sign-and-trade offer ready for Atlanta forward Josh Smith that would be the top priority in free agency."