BOSTON -- When the Toronto Raptors made the trade to acquire Serge Ibaka from the Orlando Magic, many questioned why the Celtics weren't able to pull off such a deal. Was it because they didn't want to part with Terry Rozier as one report suggested?
No, says one league source.
The source tells CSNNE there was no Ibaka trade for the Celtics because Boston had no interest in re-signing him to a new contract after this season.
Ibaka is set to be a free agent this offseason and will likely command a contract the Celtics are unwilling to match. According to the source the Celtics were not interested in trading away assets for someone they viewed as a two-to-three- month rental.
And regarding the report that said talks between the Celtics and Magic broke down because Boston was unwilling to part with Terry Rozier, the source tells CSNNE that's not true.
With so many assets, in the form of players and draft picks, Danny Ainge's phone is expected to be one of the busiest in the league leading up to next Thursday's trade deadline. Whether all the chatter turns into an actual trade, however, is yet to be seen.
One thing seems clear. Ainge and the Celtics will will not mortgage the future for short-term gains.