The Boston Celtics are a team that looks primed to make a trade ahead of the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline. They have been playing their best basketball of the season recently and are looking to continue climbing up the Eastern Conference standings to get out of the Play-In Tournament.
Boston has won five consecutive games and seven of their last eight. They are now 30-25, only a half-game behind the sixth-place Toronto Raptors and five games behind the first-place Miami Heat.
The opportunity to move up is there. If a deal materializes that will help improve their chances of qualifying for the postseason, they will jump at it. One player that could be on the move ahead of the trade deadline is Josh Richardson.
According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the Los Angeles Lakers are the latest team to check in on Richardson’s availability. The Lakers are desperate to add some 3-and-D type of players to their rotation and Richardson would fit the bill.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: This Celtics-Lakers Trade Sends Josh Richardson To L.A.
Richardson is knocking down 40 percent of his 3-point attempts this season, averaging 9.9 points to go along with 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 24.9 minutes per game. He would be an excellent addition for the Lakers, but it doesn’t sound like they will be landing him.
According to Keith Smith, the Boston Celtics are receiving plenty of interest in Richardson. However, to move him, they are seeking what they deem to be an upgrade for not only this season but next season as well. Conversations with the Lakers didn’t go very far, as they have very little to offer outside of Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn, and a future first-round pick, with the earliest one being in 2027.
In addition to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves have also been connected to Richardson. Utah’s plans at the deadline changed drastically when Joe Ingles tore his ACL recently, as he was being offered in trade packages with a first-round pick.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: This Celtics-Lakers Trade Sends Josh Richardson To L.A.
As for the Timberwolves, there were some scenarios discussed that involved Richardson and Romeo Langford or Aaron Nesmith for Malik Beasley. But, it was actually the Timberwolves who were not interested, as they were looking to retain flexibility for a possibly bigger trade ahead of the deadline.
If Minnesota doesn’t find that bigger deal, they could double back to the Celtics and revisit talks centered around Josh Richardson.
