Boston Celtics Rumors: Latest on Boston's pursuit of a new center, Dewayne Dedmon could be a trade target and more

After losing Kyrie Irving, Terry Rozier, and Al Horford during the offseason, there were doubts over the Boston Celtics' ability to compete during the 2019-20 season. However, Brad Stevens' team has started the new campaign with a 12-4 record, and the likes of Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Gordon Hayward have all managed to rediscover form following underwhelming seasons last time out.

Nevertheless, certain areas of the Celtics roster still lack quality and depth, and the front office is expected to be active in the coming months ahead. So, here we will take a look at all the latest Celtics trade rumors you need to know as we enter Week 6 of the 2019-20 NBA season.

#1 Myles Turner and LaMarcus Aldridge are targets, although the Celtics will find a trade difficult to pull off

Myles Turner could be a target for the Boston Celtics

Signing a big man remains a priority for the Celtics, and Sean Deveney of Heavy.com is reporting that Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers and LaMarcus Aldridge of the San Antonio Spurs are among the players that the Celtics are interested in. However, Deveney also notes that a move for either player will be difficult:

The Pacers would be unlikely, sources have told Heavy.com, to trade Turner in the Eastern Conference, if at all. The Celtics almost certainly would need to trade Gordon Hayward and take back some salary to make an Aldridge deal work and they’d be reluctant to do that.

Turner has spent his entire career with the Pacers and is this season averaging 12.6 points, and 6.6 rebounds in 31.2 minutes per contest. Meanwhile, LaMarcus Aldridge has been a regular All-Star since 2012, and over 18 appearances this season, the Spurs man has averaged 18.8 points and 6.7 rebounds.

#2 Gordon Hayward and Marcus Smart are considered untouchable in trade talks

Marcus Smart has made an excellent start to the season

With the Celtics being linked to a number of names around the league, it leads to the question as to which players could leave Boston as part of a trade. Gordon Hayward and Marcus Smart have both been linked with an exit, although ESPN's Brian Windhorst is reporting that the front office currently considers the duo 'untouchable' in trade talks:

Boston has made it clear to anyone who has asked that their core players are absolutely not available. That includes, sources said, both (Gordon) Hayward and (Marcus) Smart, players who have been floated as possible trade chips in the past.

So far this season, Marcus Smart averaging 12.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game - and the 26-year-old is among the early frontrunners for the Defensive Player of the Year Award. Meanwhile, Hayward is currently out with a fractured hand, although he started the campaign in resurgent form as he averaged 18.9 points and 7.1 rebounds in 31.1 minutes per contest.

#3 Dewayne Dedmon could become available to the Celtics if the Kings continue to underperform

Dewayne Dedmon impressed during a two-year spell with the Atlanta Hawks

During the 2019 offseason, the Sacramento Kings signed Dewayne Dedmon to a three-year, $40 million contract. Dedmon had enjoyed a resurgent two-year spell with the Atlanta Hawks, although the 30-year-old has struggled for game time with the Kings.

Sacramento also face a difficult task to qualify for the 2020 playoffs in a competitive Western Conference, and Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report believes that Dedmon could join the Celtics ahead of the trade deadline:

Perhaps if the Kings continue to underperform expectations, Dedmon could be had for something built around Kanter (on a shorter and cheaper contract), Romeo Langford (a 2019 first-rounder) and one other piece for filler.

Over 16 appearances for the Kings, Dedmon has averaged 4.9 points and 4.1 rebounds in a near career-low 14.8 minutes per contest.