DEAL AGREED: Ex-Laker and NBA Champion free agent now in advance trade talks with Celtics – Trade looking imminently

The Boston Celtics had one roster spot open entering the 2023-24 season. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Philadelphia 76ers waived Danny Green to make room for the players acquired in exchange for James Harden. With Danny Green on the market again, Sports Illustrated’s Bobby Kritvitzky speculated that he could join the Celtics.

“The two contests he participated in to start the 2023-24 campaign, averaging nine minutes, is a small sample size, but he was moving well and looks recovered from his injury,” Krivitsky wrote in a story published on October 31, 2018.

Green, according to Krivitzky, isn’t the player he once was, but he can still shoot from distance, which is why he thinks he’d be a good addition to the Celtics.

“While the 36-year-old’s no longer at the level he was while with the Toronto Raptors, when he was one of the NBA’s more valuable 3&D role players, if last season, when Green drilled 43.2 percent of his 3.4 three-point attempts, is any indication, he’s still effective from beyond the arc,” Krivitsky wrote in his report. “Before making any moves, Boston wanted to be patient and evaluate its roster in-season.” However, the opportunity to add a three-time champion who can perform well in a limited role is worthwhile.”

Instead, Green joined the Cleveland Cavaliers. Green then admitted that the Celtics were interested, but not particularly so.

“We didn’t have a conversation,” Green told CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning on March 3. “There was some interest (from Boston’s end), but I believe they were not ready to make any moves at that point, so there was no conversation.” There was some interest, but it wasn’t a lot.”

It’s possible that the Celtics didn’t want to disrupt their rotation’s continuity to make room for Green at the time. If they signed him soon after the season began, they’d have plenty of time to integrate him.

Walsh is the Celtics’ first first-round pick since 2020, when they selected Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard. Walsh has yet to play a minute of NBA action and is unlikely to see much during his rookie season. This isn’t just because he’s a rookie; the Celtics have added several players who play his position.

Oshae Brissett, Dalano Banton, Svi Mykhailiuk, and Lamar Stevens are more likely to see action than Walsh. Adding Danny Green makes it even less likely.