The latest Celtics news, rumors

After a trying start to the season, the Celtics are finally firmly on the upswing and have a chance to play themselves out of a play-in tournament scenario in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Could that mean Boston might be in line for an in-season trade to get another key piece to make a postseason run? If the rumors are true, a number of teams have interest in some key Celtics, at least.

Here’s the latest NBA trade speculation involving the Celtics, including reports involving one of the team’s longtime core players and others that suggest a key backup might be on his way out of town.

Report: Bucks and Celtics talking Dennis Schroder-Donte DiVincenzo swap

NBA writer Keith Smith tweeted Tuesday morning that reports of the Bucks and Celtics having trade talks centered around backup guards Dennis Schroder and Donte DiVincenzo are “accurate,” adding to speculation from last week about the possibility of Schroder going to Milwaukee.

However, there’s no done deal yet because Boston might have to give up even more to make the deal.

“What has killed a deal thus far is the Bucks want the Celtics to include Grant Williams in the deal and Boston is unwilling to part with their backup big man,” Smith wrote.

Meanwhile, Smith also reports the Celtics have gotten calls about Josh Richardson, including from the Lakers, but “nothing has gotten close” in terms of dealing the backup forward.

The Celtics could explore a Grant Williams deal.

According to Jackie MacMullan in an appearance on the Bill Simmons podcast, the Celtics might consider dealing forward Williams prior to the deadline.

“The one thing I’ve heard that I don’t like is the possibility of (the Celtics) moving Grant Williams,” MacMullan told Simmons. “I think Grant Williams has had a really good year. He’s four inches too short but he’s the only guy who is hitting 3s for you. You better get a shooter back if you are going to trade Grant Williams.”

Williams is an interesting name on a couple of levels. On the one hand, as MacMullan pointed out, Williams has been a revelation this year — a powerfully built forward who is shooting one of the best clips from the corners in the NBA. At times, he has even shown flashes of a post-up presence (which was where he excelled at Tennessee). Defensively, he can guard several different positions even if he is, as MacMullan put it, four inches too short.

Still, you have to give up value to get it in return, and Williams has real value as a 23-year-old on a rookie deal. The question the Celtics would need to consider with Williams is whether they are selling high or giving up on a player who is just scratching the surface of his potential. In 92 possessions this season, the lineup of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams, Marcus Smart, and Grant Williams has outscored opponents by a staggering 45.5 points per 100 possessions, and there’s some symmetry in having five players all drafted by the same team on the court at the same time.

Multiple teams have made offers for Schroder; Josh Richardson also a trade target

The Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly put offers “on the table” for Schröder,” according to multiple sources.

The Action Network’s Matt Moore wrote Sunday that the Bulls and Bucks could take on the veteran guard in exchange for some needed cap relief for Boston. Additionally, Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer reported the Celtics and Bulls discussed a deal that would give Schröder to Chicago for Troy Brown Jr. and a second-round pick.

Richardson, meanwhile, has apparently been on the Utah Jazz’s radar, according to Fischer.

Timberwolves reportedly trying to trade for Marcus Smart

Bleacher Report’s Fischer also suggested the Minnesota Timberwolves are looking into Smart as an eventual replacement for Patrick Beverly, who will be a free agent after this season. KTSP and SKOR North host Darren Wolfson added more fuel to that fire, quoting a source on Friday saying the Wolves are “definitely trying to trade” for the Celtics starting point guard.