NBA Trade Rumors: Memphis Grizzlies, Boston Celtics close to Jerryd Bayless trade
By Josh Hill
The NBA trade season is upon us and while the Boston Celtics weren’t able to pull the trigger on a trade for Omer Asik, that doesn’t mean they aren’t still trying to make a move. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the Celtics are in advanced talks to acquire guard Jerryd Bayless from the Memphis Grizzlies.
According to Stein, the deal would involve Courtney Lee heading to Memphis in the trade package.
Boston Celtics, I'm told, are in advanced discussions on a trade to acquire Jerryd Bayles from Memphis in a deal involving Courtney Lee
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 5, 2014
Lee was part of the Omer Asik package that the Celtics were offering to the Houston Rockets but since that deal never went through, the Celtics still have him as a trade chip that they’re cashing in now for Bayless.
Boston has been watching the rehab of point guard Rajon Rondo and adding Bayless not only mean the Celtics have a point guard to run in place of Rondo for the time being, they also have a great scoring option to run alongside him when he returns. The deal isn’t official yet but the framework seems to be done and Jerryd Bayless is very close to wearing a Celtics jersey.