Charania: Celtics ‘among teams interested’ in Magic’s Nikola Vucevic

The Boston Celtics reportedly have interest in more than just Detroit Piston forward Jerami Grant, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, with Boston ‘among teams interested’ in Orlando Magic big man Nikola Vucevic.

The two-time All-Star is having an outstanding season with the Magic in 2020-21, putting up 24.5 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and a steal per game while shooting 48.3% from the field and 41.8 percent from beyond the arc. The Swiss big man has quietly been putting together one of the better offensive seasons in the league, and thus would likely come at a high cost in any trade.

His $26 million salary is not small, but would conceivably be sending back one of either Tristan Thompson, Daniel Theis or Robert Williams III in order to open up the minutes warranted by a player of Vucevic's profile. It's also a declining deal dropping to $24 million next season and $22 million the season after that, which would help soften the blow of what would likely be a considerable tax bill. Particularly if Boston ended up above the $132 million luxury tax line, bringing the dreaded repeater tax into play sooner. https://twitter.com/CelticsLab/status/1367490387456188423

As with all things inside of a month of the NBA trade deadline, take rumors with a grain of salt. "Interest" does not equate to both sides being disposed to a trade, and even if there's smoke from both camps, the proverbial fire may never get started if one side's valuation is too far apart from the other's. The appeal of having Vooch in green and white is clear -- but after the cost is made known, it could wane. This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook! [lawrence-related id=47331,47311,47305,47291] [listicle id=47261]

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