For the past two months, the Boston Celtics have had to sit on their hands regarding a potential Marcus Thornton trade.
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Acquired from the Sacramento Kings in July as part of a three-team deal, Thornton was sent to Beantown namely for his rather large expiring contract. Of course, due to NBA rules the Celtics couldn’t trade Marcus Thornton for 60-plus days considering he was acquired via exception. However with that limit passed the shooting guard is now eligible to be traded and it appears as if the Boston Celtics are willing to listen.
"As for Thornton, he’s more likely to be moved at some point prior to the February trade deadline in part because of the team’s logjam in the backcourt."
For what it’s worth, Marcus Thornton has been told he’ll be given floor time to showcase his talents, though this is more likely in effort to build his trade value.
A former star at LSU, Thornton quickly emerged as a perimeter threat with the Sacramento Kings though struggled under head coach Mike Malone who preaches tough-nosed defense, something Thornton isn’t a big fan of. That said, when on, Thornton is a beast from behind the arc and can carry a team offensively.
In regards to what the Boston Celtics can expect in return for Thornton’s services, that’s subject to opinion. If he’s able to play well prior to being traded, it’s possible the Celtics may be able to nab a solid asset in return. However, Thornton’s $8 million dollar expiring contract will remain valuable even if Thornton struggles.