There has been plenty of talk about Carmelo Anthony being in trade talks with the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, but the Celtics haven’t been able to pull the trigger on a deal they have liked yet. Instead, they have their sites set on Paul George of the Indiana Pacers and Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
“Boston’s shown minimal interest in Anthony, preferring to continue its pursuit of persuading Chicago (Jimmy Butler) and Indiana (Paul George) to engage in trade talks that involve two younger, more well-rounded stars.”
The controversy and turmoil in New York has been publicized over the last couple of weeks, and it is quite clear that Carmelo Anthony wants to be traded, but the Knicks have yet to find a deal they like.
As for the Celtics, everyone knows they have plenty of assets (namely the Brooklyn Nets picks), and they are on the look for a star player that can get them over the hump to beat the Cavaliers. The Pacers haven’t shown much in the way of trading George, but the Chicago Bulls have had Jimmy Butler on the market since this past summer, at the least.
Butler has been putting up star numbers on a Bulls team that has been all over the place this season. The 27-year-old is averaging 24.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.8 steals while shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from three.
George is putting up 22.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and he is shooting 45. 2 percent (38 percent from beyond the arc). Paul George just led the Pacers on a seven-game winning streak that was just snapped by the Cavaliers, and now has them in sixth place in the East, one spot above the Bulls.
The Celtics, Cavaliers, Pacers, and Bulls have a couple of weeks left until the trade deadline to make some more progress on a potential blockbuster deal.
