Fab Melo for Jordan Crawford trade discussed by Celtics, Wizards

Jordan Crawford could be headed to the Celtics in exchange for Fab Melo. (Ned Dishman/Getty Images)

As rumors fade of a potential Kevin Garnett trade to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Boston Celtics may end up making just a few tweaks to their roster with the 3 p.m. EST deadline fast approaching.

One possible scenario being discussed is the Celtics sending rookie big man Fab Melo to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Jordan Crawford, according to a tweet Thursday morning from Chris Broussard of ESPN.

The move allows the Celtics to space the floor with perimeter scoring, as Crawford has demonstrated his knack for racking up points from anywhere on the court. It would also allow Paul Pierce and Garnett to operate more freely, as opposing defenses would be faced with a third scorer who could put up 25 points on any given night. It would also bring back some semblance of depth to a backcourt that has been depleted by season-ending injuries to Rajon Rondo and Leandro Barbosa. Currently, Avery Bradley, Jason Terry and Courtney Lee man the point guard and shooting guard duties, but Crawford would become perhaps the Celtics' most potent scorer of the bunch.

In return, the Wizards would get another Brazilian big man to bring relief to Nene and Emeka Okafor, players that are more than capable of turning out a double-double when healthy. But both players have missed extended periods of time over the years because of lingering injuries, so the seven-foot Melo would provide much needed insurance for a team that could lack depth in the frontcourt should Okafor or Nene go down again.

At $1.1 million this season, Crawford has proven to be a bargain for the Wizards; the shooting guard has shown flashes of brilliance this year including a game in December in which he recorded his second career triple double with 27 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds. On the season, he is averaging 13.2 points on 41 percent shooting, 3.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 26 minutes and has shown his ability to perform in the clutch. Melo has played sparingly in his first season, averaging only 3 minutes per game but was drafted No. 22 by the Celtics last year because of his considerable upside as a rare seven footer.