Celtics news & rumors: C’s lose fighting; Norman Powell trade interest

The Boston Celtics followed an upbeat victory against the Orlando Magic Sunday with an upbeat loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.

While a loss is still a loss and hurts the team’s current standing in the playoff race, both Celtics head coach Brad Stevens and Jaylen Brown were encouraged by the effort of a shorthanded squad playing without Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum.

Still, the Celtics should beat a struggling Memphis team, but the 132-126 overtime loss did showcase a lot of effort that Brown feels was very encouraging in the loss.

"“We had this one,” Brown said following the game, as transcribed by NESN.  “We played really hard, had a lot of guys step up, you know, step into roles they don’t usually play in.  So, I was proud of that.  But we still could have got this win.  It’s definitely one we want back….So, there was definitely some stuff, some miscommunications, some defense and things like that, but I would agree with Brad [Stevens], I thought that was a hard-fought-game on our end.”More from Chowder and Champions3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster DeadlineMLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 SeasonRed Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win"

Without two of their best players, the Celtics saw players like Jeff Teague, Robert Williams and Daniel Theis really step up to fill some of the void left by the late scratch of Tatum heading into the game, but at the end it wasn’t enough due mostly to the team’s own mistakes down the stretch and in that overtime period.

As much as Brown, who led the team with 27 points, and the team wanted to win the game and honestly needed to win on Monday night, it was nice to see that the effort was there.

So, in a loss, it is a positive thing that the team fought hard and played with the energy that Boston Celtics basketball has come to be defined.

NBA trade rumors: Celtics interested in Norman Powell

With the NBA trade deadline just a couple days away, rumors are gaining steam around players such as Aaron Gordon and John Collins, but another player has gained the team’s interest.

According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, the Boston Celtics have been linked in trade discussions with the Toronto Raptors for Norman Powell.

Averaging 19.5 points a game in a breakout season, Powell is interesting because of the energy and attitude he brings to the court.  If you remember last year’s playoff series against the Raptors, Powell hit some big shots in that game.

As far as his fit on the Celtics, he would add that wing player depth the team is looking for, but what would they have to give up in obtaining him?

Since he is about to hit free agency, it may take less to pry him away from Toronto than the price the team would have to pay for either Aaron Gordon or John Collins.

A young player and a draft pick?

If that is all it would take, Powell would be a nice piece to get, especially if Marcus Smart is the centerpiece of another deal for the players listed above or perhaps another big name player.