REPORT:Boston Celtics uninterested in trade for former top overall pick

The Boston Celtics are uninterested in trading for former No. 1 overall NBA draft pick Deandre Ayton according to MassLive’s Brian Robb — who reported that a Malcolm Brogdon trade to the Suns is dead following the completion of a trade that’s sending Bradley Beal to Phoenix for Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, future pick swaps, and future second-round draft picks.

“The Celtics have no interest in an Ayton deal per a league source due to his pricy contract so any scenario that involves Brogdon going to Phoenix now is dead without a third team getting involved,” Robb prefaced before saying, “Phoenix could involve moving Ayton elsewhere but don’t look for Boston to get involved unless Ayton’s going to a different team.”

Boston lacked a third big man who can regularly contribute in the postseason behind Al Horford and Robert Williams III, but taking on Ayton’s remaining $102 million salary with a looming $295 million Jaylen Brown supermax isn’t logical and isn’t likely.

Deandre Ayton passes the eye test but wouldn’t be a good Boston Celtics culture fit

Even if Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck decided to sign off on trading for Ayton and pay whatever taxes that would follow, the culture fit for the Arizona product in the C’s locker room would be questionable. While Ayton stuffs the stat sheet, his impact is oftentimes underwhelming in the postseason when his easy offense in the paint should be opening up the team’s shooting along the perimeter.

Bringing in another top pick who demands the ball would take touches away from players like Brown and Jayson Tatum who will be making multiple hundreds of millions and taking up the team’s cap space for years to come. Complementary players on smaller deals is ideal alongside the Jays, but even a similar player like Kristaps Porzingis makes more sense than Aytn considering the Latvian’s expiring deal. Tying up long-term money for Ayton simply shouldn’t be a thought right now.

 

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Former Celtics guard Phil Pressey to join Joe Mazzulla’s staff

Former Celtics guard Phil Pressey is joining coach Joe Mazzulla’s staff, according to a league source.

Pressey, 32, played for the Celtics from 2013-15. He then had brief stints with the 76ers and Suns before spending several years playing overseas. Last season Pressey worked as an assistant at Missouri, his alma mater. Pressey’s father, Paul, played in the NBA for 11 seasons before serving as an assistant coach for 25, including a stint with the Celtics from 2004-06.

The source said the Celtics are planning to add one or two more behind-the-bench coaches to Mazzulla’s staff in the coming weeks. The Celtics filled their top two assistant slots earlier this month by hiring Bucks associate head coach Charles Lee and 76ers assistant Sam Cassell, who was a three-time NBA champion as a player.

Boston’s coaching staff was shorthanded last year. Assistant coach Will Hardy left to coach the Jazz in June, and in September head coach Ime Udoka was suspended and subsequently dismissed for having an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate team employee. In March, assistant Damon Stoudamire, the lone remaining coach with extensive NBA playing experience, was hired to coach Georgia Tech.

Lead assistant coach Ben Sullivan is leaving to join Udoka’s staff with the Rockets. The source said it’s unclear whether assistant Aaron Miles will depart for another job, and that assistants Tony Dobbins, Matt Reynolds, and D.J. MacLeay are returning to Boston.