The Boston Celtics have been one of the most talked about teams in the NBA this season for a couple of reasons. Not only have they been very underwhelming this season, but they have a $28.5M trade exception stemming from the Gordon Hayward sign-and-trade with the Hornets that they could use to absorb virtually any contract in the league. 

This trade exception expires in November, meaning that the Celtics could hold off on making a big move at the trade deadline to make a move in the offseason, but with Boston struggling to play like a true playoff threat this year, they could settle to use this massive trade exception now to better their efforts to contend in the Eastern Conference. 

Boston is barely in the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference right now and outside of Walkr, Brown and Tatum, this team has virtually no production. Marcus Smart is a solid two-way contributor, but even he has struggled at times this year offensively and his minutes have been limited due to a calf injury. 

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Many people around the league fully expect the Celtics to be the most aggressive team at the trade deadline and look to make a couple of moves to improve their roster as they look to make it back to the Eastern Conference Finals and hopefully win the East for the first time since 2010. 

There are plenty of trade rumors circulating around the Boston Celtics, so let’s take a look at the latest news pertaining to Boston and three trade targets they could have their eye on ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.