Celtics

Morning sports update: Here’s what the Rockets reportedly wanted from the Celtics for James Harden

"The price was really high for us," Danny Ainge admitted afterward.

By Hayden Bird

January 15, 2021

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Email
• Email
• 1

The Bruins got the 2021 season underway in winning fashion on Thursday night, defeating the Devils 3-2 in a shootout.

The boys are back.

🎥 Check out all the highlights from the #NHLBruins season-opening 3-2 win over the Devils on Thursday night. pic.twitter.com/F9s69vROk8

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) January 15, 2021

Tonight, the Celtics are set to play a game for the first time since Jan. 8. Boston will face the Orlando Magic, pending the results of remaining COVID-19 testing.

In NFL news, the Jets hired 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh to be New York’s new head coach, and three-time college football National Championship winner Urban Meyer agreed to become the Jaguars’ head coach.

The Rockets wanted a package that included Jaylen Brown for James Harden: As Celtics’ president of basketball operations Danny Ainge acknowledged in an interview on Thursday, he had been in touch with the Rockets about possibly acquiring James Harden prior to Houston’s decision to trade its superstar to the Nets.

“We had numerous talks, but the price really wasn’t changing,” Ainge told 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Toucher & Rich” in the interview. “The price was really high for us, and it was something we really didn’t want to do. I’m not sure there was anybody — even the people within our organization that respected him and wanted him more, but I think unanimously, we decided it wasn’t the time for us and it wasn’t the price.”

For those wondering what the Rockets’ price for a Harden trade might have been, Boston Sports Journal’s Brian Robb provided an answer.

“One league source told BostonSportsJournal.com that the haul the Rockets demanded from the Celtics for Harden included Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and draft compensation,” wrote Robb.

Ultimately, Houston worked out a four-team blockbuster trade that included four first-round picks, four potential pick-swaps, as well as Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum, and Rodions Kurucs.

Trivia: What Bruins player holds the team record for all-time penalty minutes?

(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: He wore No. 24.

More from Boston.com:

• 3 takeaways from the Bruins’ season-opening win over the Devils
• Tom Brady says Drew Brees is ‘a lot younger’: ’18 months ago, I felt pretty good’
• Watch Brad Marchand win Bruins’ season opener vs. Devils with shootout goal
• Theo Epstein hired as MLB consultant to evaluate rules changes
• Jets hire 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as coach
• Bruins’ Kevan Miller calls ‘uncle, uncle’ to stop Brad Marchand praising his return
• Celtics’ Kemba Walker feels great ‘in a different way’ than he did before the bubble
• ‘We cross our fingers’: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics are close returning after COVID protocols
• Danny Ainge discussed why the Celtics didn’t pursue a trade for James Harden
• Periodic Southie resident Jessie Diggins has climbed to the pinnacle of the cross-country skiing world

Bruce Cassidy on Tuukka Rask’s performance, and other thoughts from the Bruins’ win:

#NHLBruins coach Bruce Cassidy on the team’s Opening Night win and the performance of Tuukka Rask: “His game was excellent… I thought he looked in midseason form.” pic.twitter.com/COKhS2QP31

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) January 15, 2021

Here’s the New York Post’s back page after the Jets’ decision to hire Robert Saleh:

The back page: MR. GREEN https://t.co/cwsJyJ7L8D pic.twitter.com/zkFurM8V3L

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) January 15, 2021

On this day: In 1972, John Havlicek led the Celtics to a 122-106 win over the Hawks, scoring 40 points while adding seven assists and seven rebounds.

Daily highlight: Miles Bridges threw down a vicious two-handed dunk off of a pass from rookie LaMelo Ball.

Trivia answer: Terry O’Reilly