The Boston Celtics were unable to defeat the New York Knicks in the second round of the NBA playoffs and were eliminated in six games. Heading into the offseason, there have been rumblings of major change coming to the franchise.
During the season, the Celtics were sold to new ownership. The new management has been reported to be eyeing cost-cutting moves.
A new report has come out that has sparked major trade rumors.
According to a report from NBA insider Kevin O’Connor, as shared by Yahoo Sports, Boston has interviewed Duke standout Cooper Flagg.
“I have multiple sources telling me the Celtics interviewed Cooper Flagg,” O’Connor said.
Read more: Contradictory Reports Emerge on Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Landing Spot
Flagg is as close to a lock to go No. 1 overall in the 2025 NBA draft as any prospect has ever been. Currently, the Dallas Mavericks own the No. 1 pick and are ecstatic to have won the NBA draft lottery despite only having a 1.8 percent chance of doing so.
What could the Celtics’ interviewing Flagg mean? Might they be considering an aggressive attempt to trade up to the No. 1 pick with the Mavericks?
O’Connor continued on with more details about what Boston might try to do.
“Boston calls [Dallas GM] Nico [Harrison] and they offer Jaylen Brown. And how many first-round picks is it gonna take?” O’Connor said. “I just wonder if Dallas and their entire decision-making unit would listen.”
Should the Celtics actually want to tear their current core apart, making a move for Flagg would make sense. He would be a much cheaper option than Jaylen Brown, who is currently playing on a five-year deal worth just over $285 million.
Read more: Lakers Connected to $78M Center in Potential Trade
Also, the fact of the matter is that Flagg has a skill set that could make him a generational talent. He put on a show as a freshman with the Blue Devils, leading them on a run to the Final Four.
Throughout the course of the 2024-25 college basketball season with Duke, Flagg played in 37 games. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game, while also shooting 48.1 percent from the floor and 38.5 percent from three-point range.
Of course, there is a good chance that Boston doesn’t make a move. The Celtics may not have an interest in trading Brown, and Dallas might not have a single bit of interest in trading away the rights to draft Flagg. However, it’s something to monitor.
For more Boston Celtics and general NBA news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
The post Celtics’ Cooper Flagg Decision Sparks Trade Rumors appeared first on Newsweek.
