Hoops Rumors

With everybody healthy for Friday’s game against New Orleans, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla tinkered with his closing lineup, according to to Souichi Terada of MassLive. Mazzulla rotated his centers in the final minutes of the two-point victory, using Kristaps Porzingis when Boston had the ball and Al Horford when the team was on defense. “Just different looks,” Mazzulla … [Read more...] about Celtics Notes: Porzingis, Horford, Tucker, Trade Deadline, Pritchard

The Celtics, Knicks, Nuggets and others have called the Sixers to express interest in trading for forward Guerschon Yabusele, HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto writes. As we wrote this week, the Sixers “love” the French forward but his impending unrestricted free agent status gives the Sixers plenty to think about at this deadline. Yabusele is averaging 10.4 points and 5.5 rebounds … [Read more...] about Celtics, Knicks, Nuggets Among Teams Registering Interest In Guerschon Yabusele

Winning a championship last season has affected the Celtics’ killer instinct, center Kristaps Porzingis admits. Porzingis made his comments after Boston’s win over Dallas on Saturday. “We were a lion last season, and some games this year we’ve looked like a house cat,” Porzingis said, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “We want to have that spirit as a team this year, and it’s tough. … [Read more...] about Atlantic Notes: Porzingis, Irving, Hart, George

The back surgery Nets forward Ben Simmons underwent last spring caused him to question whether he’d be able to continue playing in the NBA, as Julia Stumbaugh of Bleacher Report relays. “There were times, last summer, when I was like, ‘I don’t know if I can do this. I might have to stop playing,” Simmons said on The Young Man and The Three podcast in discussing the challenges … [Read more...] about Atlantic Notes: Simmons, Celtics, Tatum, Barnes

The Celtics are expecting to receive a minimum of four ownership bids from prospective investment groups when the first round of the sale process closes on January 23, a source with direct knowledge of the process tells Michael Silverman of The Boston Globe (subscription required). A fifth bid is also a possibility, Silverman reports. Current co-owner Steve Pagliuca is … [Read more...] about Celtics Reportedly Expect 4-5 Initial Ownership Bids

Celtics guard Jaden Springer is considered a prime trade candidate for a team looking to reduce its luxury tax bill. Springer may have enhanced his value with a rare chance to play extended minutes against the Clippers on Wednesday. He had six points and tied a career-high with four steals in a season-high 20 minutes, Brian Robb of Masslive.com notes. “He’s just got an innate … [Read more...] about Atlantic Notes: Springer, Brown, Raptors Trade Prospects, Johnson