Possible deal would send Nocioni to Boston

November 17, 2009, 9:02 AM
By: Chris Forsberg

Could the Celtics be in the middle of a three-team swap that would send some of its reserves out of town in return for Andres Nocioni?

That's what ESPN's Marc Stein reports today, noting the Celtics have emerged as potential middle man as the Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings consider a Samuel Dalembert-for-Kenny Thomas swap.

From ESPN's True Hoop blog:

Sources told ESPN.com that the Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings, in considering the feasibility of a Samuel Dalembert-for-Kenny Thomas swap, have discussed expanding that concept with Boston by trying to draw in the Celtics on a potential three-way deal that would land Andres Nocioni with the Celts.
Sources further stressed over the past 48 hours that this should be classified as an ongoing conversation as the teams involved decide how much they like what's on the table.

But the full deal as it stands, if it eventually gets that far, would send Nocioni to Boston, Kenny Thomas, Tony Allen and Brian Scalabrine to Philadelphia and Dalembert and J.R. Giddens to Sacramento.

Later Stein, examines the feasibility of the trade, team by team. Here's his thoughts on the Celtics:

Boston has had interest in Nocioni from the minute Sacramento acquired him in February in the deal that dispatched Brad Miller and John Salmons to Chicago. That said, Boston has also been hesitant since February about acting upon that interest because Nocioni has three years and more than $20 million left on his contract after this season. That's a lot of long-term cash for the Celts to take on -- even if Nocioni turned out to be a James Posey-style Mr. Versatile for them -- after they just signed Rajon Rondo to a lucrative extension and with decisions about the futures of Paul Pierce and Ray Allen looming. So Boston pulling out because of financial concerns likely ranks as the biggest impediment to this deal.
Nocioni, a 6-foot-7 forward in his sixth season, turns 30 later this month. The one-time All-Star is averaging 11.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in nine games (including five starts) for the Kings this season.

Nocioni helped Argentina win a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens (and bronze in 2008 in Beijing). His original Olympic exploits helped him land a free-agent deal with the Bulls before the 2004 season. Nocioni later signed a 5-year, $38-million contract with the Bulls during the 2007 offseason, but was dealt to the Kings this past February along with Drew Gooden and Cedric Simmons for John Salmons and Brad Miller.