NBA Trade Deadline LIVE Blog: Celtics Acquire Isaiah Thomas; Trade Tayshaun Prince To Detroit
BOSTON (CBS) -- Follow along for all the trades and rumors on NBA Deadline Day!
3:19 p.m.: The Thomas trade wasn't the only buzzer-beater for the Celtics:
Hearing Pistons swung trade before the buzzer to reacquire Tayshaun Prince from Boston
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 19, 2015
Hearing Tayshaun Prince to Detroit for Jerebko and Datome
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 19, 2015
Prince can now go back to where his career began, as the Pistons try to make a push for the playoffs.
In return, the Celtics land Jonas Jerebko and Luigi Datome (according to ESPN), who are both buyout candidates.
A few more trades that slid in just after the deadline:
Norris Cole to New Orleans for John Salmons is another trade that beat the buzzer
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 19, 2015
Philadelphia has traded K.J. McDaniels to Houston for Isaiah Canaan and a second round pick, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
Sources: As part of Brandon Knight trade, Milwaukee gets Michael Carter-Williams, Tyler Ennis and Miles Plumlee.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
Houston has traded Alexy Schved to the New York Knicks, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
3:02 p.m.: Just when you think the Celtics didn't do anything, we get a nice Woj bomb at 3:01:
Phoenix has traded Isaiah Thomas to the Boston Celtics, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
Also can confirm Phoenix has sent Isaiah Thomas to Boston. Boom goes the deadline-a-mite.
— Ken Berger (@KBergNBA) February 19, 2015
In his first year in Phoenix, Thomas averaged 15.2 points and 3.7 assists per game. Danny Ainge was a fan of Thomas's when he hit the open market this past offseason, as the Celtics were the first team to call him when the free agency period began.
And it doesn't look as though they gave up too much to get Thomas:
For Isaiah Thomas, Boston will send Marcus Thornton and a 2016 first-round pick via Cleveland to Phoenix, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
The Celtics have a collection of guards now, but that leaves Ainge a few options for this summer. He'll provide some scoring, likely off the bench, and is another young player that Ainge can either build around, or cash in at a later date.
As for the Kendrick Perkins front, it looks like he'll be back with Doc Rivers in the near future:
Clippers are the front runner to land Kendrick Perkins if/when he is bought out, league source tells SI.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) February 19, 2015
2:58 p.m.: The Suns traded one guard, and have acquired another.
Milwaukee has traded guard Brandon Knight to Phoenix, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
2:54 p.m.: With just a few minutes to go, it looks like the Thunder will get their big-man at the deadline:
Utah is finalizing a deal to send Enes Kanter to Oklahoma City, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
As part of three-way deal with Detroit, OKC will send Kendrick Perkins to the Jazz, source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
The Thunder are half a game out of the final playoff spot in the West. Wojnarowski is also hinting that this could be a much bigger trade when it is all said and done.
The deadline may be here soon, but don't count out the Celtics as being part of a trade as a facilitator.
2:46 p.m.: Reggie Jackson is no longer a member of the Thunder, but he isn't heading to Brooklyn.
Oklahoma City has traded Reggie Jackson to Detroit, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
The Pistons were looking for guard help, and emerged as a late contender for Jackson when the Nets started to drag their feet with the swap.
The moves are starting to come quick with less than 15 minutes until the deadline. It looks like the Heat have landed Dragic from the Suns:
Phoenix is finalizing a deal to send Goran Dragic to the Miami Heat, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
Phoenix is trading Goran Dragic to Miami, two sources confirm. Multiple picks, players coming back.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) February 19, 2015
With both of these moves, the Celtics playoff chances take a bit of a hit. The C's are currently 1.5 games behind the Heat for the eighth and final playoff spot (with the Nets in between, half a game ahead of the C's) and the Pistons half a game behind Boston.
2:35 p.m.: Kevin Garnett is reportedly heading home to Minnesota.
Source: Kevin Garnett agrees to trade, will go home to Minnesota for Thaddeus Young.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) February 19, 2015
Agent Andy Miller's ASM Sports announces that Kevin Garnett is heading back to Minnesota. Nets get Thaddeus Young in deal.
— Ken Berger (@KBergNBA) February 19, 2015
Garnett spent the first 12 years of his NBA career with the Timberwolves, who drafted him fifth overall in 1995 out of high school. Garnett has said he wanted to get involved with the Wolves after his playing days were over, wanting to buy the team with the piles of cash he's been paid over his 20 years in the league, and this gives him a chance to close out his career back where it began.
Garnett started 42 games for the Nets this season, averaging 6.8 points and 6.8 rebounds over 20.3 minutes per game.
2:26 p.m.: There is not much on the trade front for the Boston Celtics right now, but there is a bit of news that we were all expecting:
Prince camp plans to engage Celtics in buyout talks tomorrow.
— Mark Murphy (@Murf56) February 19, 2015
Prince has been a great veteran for the team since being acquired from Memphis in the Jeff Green trade, but buying him out will likely lead to more minutes for Celtics rookie James Young. Any extended minutes for Young this season is a good thing for Boston.
2:23 p.m.: The Thunder are waiting on the Nets to complete their big trade of the day, but they have options if the deal falls apart:
Sources: OKC hasn't committed to Lopez deal, and there's still another center that they've had talks about acquiring: Utah's Enes Kanter.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
Interestingly enough, the Jazz drafted Kanter back in 2011 with a pick they received from the Nets in the Deron Williams trade.
2:06 p.m.: If the JaValle McGee swap wasn't funky enough, toss in some Chu Chu for good measure:
The Sixers also received the rights to Nigerian forward Chu Chu Maduabum from Denver in the JaVale McGee trade.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) February 19, 2015
2:00 p.m.: Just one hour to go, and Brandon Bass is still a member of the Boston Celtics.
Come on Danny, it's time to free Bass. Let him go help a playoff team. There has to be a few second round picks still out there that Ainge hasn't already acquired this season.
1:55 p.m.: There are a few conflicting reports about Goran Dragic, with a few people saying that Phoenix owner Robert Sarver would like to keep the guard.
But according to ESPN, the Miami Heat are putting together a pretty big package for the free-agent-to-be:
ESPN reporting Heat's pitch for Goran Dragic is Norris Cole, Josh McRoberts, Birdman and two first-round picks.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) February 19, 2015
And now we'll go back to waiting on Kevin Garnett.
1:34 p.m.: We've all been playing the waiting game when it comes to Kevin Garnett and his potential return to Minnesota. It's up to him, and according to Woj (who else?), there's a belief around the league that KG will waive his no-trade clause:
There's growing belief Kevin Garnett will waive no-trade to return to Minnesota, but no final decision yet, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
1:20 p.m.: If you want something, anything, out of the Celtics at today's deadline you may be disappointed come 3 p.m.:
Barring a last-minute change in direction, all indications are now that the #Celtics will stand pat at today's trade deadline. #CelticsTalk
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) February 19, 2015
Ainge said this morning that the moves he wants to make will likely have to wait until the summer, and it's looking more and more like that's the actual case.
Then again, this is Danny Ainge we're talking about. But as Sean Grande points out, standing pat might not be such a bad thing:
1:15 p.m.: The Knicks and Rockets are among the teams interested in Phoenix guard Goran Dragic, but the Miami Heat may have the best offer.
Source says Miami offering two future 1st round picks for Dragic....but as of now, Sarver still being stubborn
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) February 19, 2015
We'll know in about just under two hours if Dragic gets his wish and is shipped out of Phoenix.
1:00 p.m.: Two hours to go, and all is quiet on the trade front for the Boston Celtics.
12:50 p.m.: Did you see a tweet about the Celtics acquiring DeMarcus Cousins? I bet you got pretty excited too!
Boston & Sacramento in serious talks for a deal that would send Demarcus Cousins to the celtics league source tells Y!
— Adrian wojnarowski (@woj_adrianNBA) February 19, 2015
Well, don't be excited at all. It's a fake Wojnarowski Twitter account. Sorry.
Deadline days are always ripe for fake tweeters, so always do that extra step of research before getting too excited.
12:40 p.m.: The Nets-Thunder swap centered around Brook Lopez and Reggie Jackson could be done soon, according to Woj.
Oklahoma City and Brooklyn are close to completing a trade centered on Brook Lopez and Reggie Jackson, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
The two sides are in serious talks, and the deal could expand to a three of four team trade (with Kevin Garnett heading back to Minnesota) in order to help complete the transaction.
The Nets and Thunder are discussing a deal that would include center Kendrick Perkins, forward Perry Jones and Jackson joining the Nets, but Brooklyn is working to gauge the enthusiasm of Jackson about coming to Brooklyn, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
12:02 p.m.: With the deadline less than three hours away, the moves are starting to come in fast.
The Washington Wizards have acquired guard Ramon Sessions, sending veteran Andre Miller to the Sacramento Kings.
Kings trading Ramon Sessions to Washington for Andre Miller, source tells Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
11:55 a.m.: The Denver Nuggets are a busy bunch this morning.
After shipping Afflalo out of town, they are now sending center JaVale McGee to the Philadelphia 76ers for a first-round pick:
Denver has agreed to send JaVale McGee to Philadelphia, along with a first-round pick via OKC, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
The Wizards also acquire a $2.5 trade exception according to CBS' Ken Berger.
The 76ers are reportedly sending the rights to Cenk Akyol to the Nuggets to complete the deal. Akyol was a second round pick by the Atlanta Hawks in 2005 out of Turkey, and the 27-year-old has yet to make his NBA debut.
According to Woj, the Nuggets are done dealing today. So it looks like Ty Lawson will be remaining in Denver.
McGee hasn't done much in Denver this season. In 17 games he averaged just 5.2 points and 2.8 rebounds. But at least he hasn't added to this video -- at least not yet.
11:30 a.m.: We have a trade!
The Nuggets have reportedly sent guard Arron Afflalo to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Denver has traded Arron Afflalo to Portland, league source tells Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
Blazers will send Will Barton, Victor Claver, a future lottery protected 1st and a second-round pick to Denver for Afflalo and Alonzo Gee.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
Thomas Robinson goes to the Nuggets too, source tells Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
Portland's sending 2016 first-round lottery protected pick. If not conveyed, becomes '17 lottery protected. After that, it's two future 2nds
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
Afflalo is averaging 14.5 points per game on 43% shooting, and will likely come off the bench behind starting shooting guard Wesley Matthews. But he gives Portland another scorer as they look to improve their standing in the western conference playoff picture.
10:45 a.m.: Kendrick Perkins may find himself packing later this afternoon.
According to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, the Brooklyn Nets and Oklahoma City Thunder are once again talking about a Brook Lopez trade:
Brooklyn, OKC are in serious talks on Brook Lopez deal for package including Reggie Jackson, league sources tell Yahoo. Story soon on site.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
Lots of moving parts in OKC-Nets talks. Brooklyn needs to include Jarrett Jack in deal, source says, and still would have backcourt logjam.
— Ken Berger (@KBergNBA) February 19, 2015
However, the new deal includes Reggie Jackson. Brooklyn is reportedly hoping to sign the skilled guard to a multi-year deal though, so this one could fall apart as easily as it did back in January.
Perkins would likely be part of any package the Thunder sends to Brooklyn, and will then probably be bought out by the Nets.
10:30 a.m.: So far, this has been a fairly quiet deadline day. But that will all likely change come 3 p.m. this afternoon.
Today is the day when contenders try to solidify their bench for the stretch run, and those on the bubble of being a contender and a pretender must decide if it's worth it to overpay for a two-month rental. It's a day when rebuilding teams can cast off enticing pieces, hoping to pick up expiring contracts or more draft picks for the future, and there's even a small chance one of those rebuilding teams picks up a key part of the future.
Anything can happen on deadline day. But for now, nothing is happening on deadline day. Just a whole bunch of rumors.
So far, these teams believe they have nothing going at deadline: Clippers, Raptors, Spurs, Hawks, Grizzlies. Can always change w/ one call.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2015
Locally here in Boston, Brandon Bass, Marcus Thornton and Tayshaun Prince are being mentioned as those veterans who could help a playoff team, but it's unclear if there is really a market for any of them. Danny Ainge will be working the phones all day, but don't be surprised if he and the Celtics stay put, given their flurry of moves earlier in the season.
On the other end, names like Isaiah Thomas, Goran Dragic, Ty Lawson and Reggie Jackson have been tossed around as potential targets for Ainge -- players he could acquire in the hopes of them being part of the future.
However, it doesn't sound like Dragic, a free agent this summer, has any interest in sticking around Boston long-term. So scratch that name off the list, because Ainge said he wouldn't be going after such players earlier today on 98.5 The Sports Hub.
It also doesn't sound like Denver will move Lawson, but that could easily change.
Robb: What Will Danny Do On Deadline Day?
And so, we wait. While things are quiet now, it's usually the trades you don't hear about that end up going through. When Ainge traded Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder back in 2011, most hadn't heard any rumblings of such a move until just before the deadline.
Be patient. Things could really get going in a few hours.
KG Back To Sota?
The biggest rumor around deadline day right now is the possibility of Kevin Garnett heading back to Minnesota.
KG is in the final year of his contract with the Brooklyn Nets, and his playing time has gone down as the team has struggled to a 21-29 record. Timberwolves president of basketball ops Flip Saunders was KG's coach for most of his time in Minnesota, and would like to see The Big Ticket finish off his career where it all started, mentoring rookies Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine in the process.
Garnett has a full no-trade clause, and it's reportedly up to him whether or not this deal goes down. The Wolves would reportedly send forward Thaddeus Young to Brooklyn in return for KG.
The trade wouldn't mean much for Minnesota, who at 11-42 own the NBA's worst record, other than the feel-good story of Garnett finishing his career as a member of the T-Wolves.