The hot rumor last week had Allen heading to the Warriors for Monta Ellis. This week, an NBA rumor is circulating that the Celtics could trade Allen to the Bulls for Kirk Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Allen is making $19.8 million in the last year of his contract with Boston, and the Sun-Times suggests that the Celtics might be willing to pull the trigger on a deal if they could acquire player in return who could step into the rotation and stick around for more than one season.
Hinrich and Thomas could help the Celtics this season and beyond. Not only are both players under contract through at least next season, but each player fills a need for the Celtics on the court.
The 29-year-old Hinrich has played both guard spots in the past and could provide solid backup point guard production. Rajon Rondo knows Hinrich well from last season's epic seven-game playoff series.
Thomas is an athletic 23-year-old forward. The former first-round pick has failed to meet expectations, but his youth and skills make him a valuable asset.
Celtics general manager Danny Ainge has neither confirmed nor denied the rumor, but according to the Boston Herald, Ainge laughed when asked about a few of the trade reports circulating.
Ainge does not want to jeopardize the Celtics’ championship aspirations by making a bad move.
"Let me just put it this way: We're doing everything we can to win a championship now," Ainge told the Herald. "We're not going to do anything that might hurt our chances of winning."
The Celtics will be linked to many trade rumors in the days leading up to the trade deadline, but Ainge will only make a move if it will help his team capture championship banner No. 18.
