NBA Trade Deadline: Boston Celtics Send Rookies to Cleveland on Busy Trade Day

The Boston Celtics have traded center Semih Erden and forward Luke Harangody to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for a 2013 second round draft pick. The draft pick originally belonged to the Minnesota Timberwolves before the Cavaliers acquired it in the Sebastian Telfair and Delonte West trade earlier this season.

The Celtics will lose some depth even though the two rookies did not play many minutes. This may be a problem right now, but the Celtics and Danny Ainge seem confident that they will add some veteran players that are expected to be bought out from their current teams.

The Cavaliers have the remainder of the season to see which players on their roster are worth keeping for next year, and which players will not be returning. Now Erden (assuming that he is healthy) and Harangody will be able to play more minutes. The Cavaliers are also expected to release former Celtic forward Leon Powe and he may end up signing with the Celtics, as they could use his low post rebounding and scoring.

Another possible candidate is veteran Troy Murphy who was traded to the Golden State Warriors for the second time in his career, even though the Warriors are expected to buy him out, and let him finish the season on a playoff contending team. Another possible veteran big man is Dan Gadzuric, who was dealt to the New Jersey Nets along with Brandan Wright for Murphy, and is expected to be bought out and released. Gadzuric would provide a defensive presence which any team would need in the postseason.