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2016 NBA Trade Deadline Grades For All 30 Teams

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) drives to the basket under pressure from Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) drives to the basket under pressure from Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Trade Deadline
Feb 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99) drives the ball against Los Angeles Clippers forward Lance Stephenson (1) in overtime at TD Garden. Celtics defeated the Clippers in overtime 139-134. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics were more poised than anyone to make a blockbuster trade and land Danny Ainge the superstar he was looking for. Unfortunately, among a crop of big names that included Al Horford, Kevin Love and Dwight Howard, Ainge didn’t find anything for a price he liked, and so, for the second year in a row, the Celtics are left sitting on their war chest of stockpiled assets.

To be clear, that’s not the end of the world. Trade season will kick back into high gear in a few months as the 2016 NBA Draft approaches, when Boston will have an estimated six draft picks to play with (and that’s only including this year’s draft).

The trade value of young players like Avery Bradley, Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Marcus Smart, Kelly Olynyk and Jared Sullinger will only go up as the season goes on, especially if the Celtics are able to make some noise in the playoffs and get past the first round.

But it sounded like Ainge’s asking price for stars was a little too low, especially for the contingent of stubborn Celtics fans who believe they can trade for a superstar without giving up this year’s Brooklyn Nets pick or Jae Crowder. If that’s the case, there’s only so much maxing out that Brad Stevens can do with this roster.

As the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics didn’t need to make a move. But they sure as hell wanted to.

Grade: C+

Next: Brooklyn Nets