Boston Celtics Rumors: Latest on Boston's pursuit of a new center, Dewayne Dedmon could be a trade target and more

#2 Gordon Hayward and Marcus Smart are considered untouchable in trade talks

Marcus Smart has made an excellent start to the season

With the Celtics being linked to a number of names around the league, it leads to the question as to which players could leave Boston as part of a trade. Gordon Hayward and Marcus Smart have both been linked with an exit, although ESPN's Brian Windhorst is reporting that the front office currently considers the duo 'untouchable' in trade talks:

Boston has made it clear to anyone who has asked that their core players are absolutely not available. That includes, sources said, both (Gordon) Hayward and (Marcus) Smart, players who have been floated as possible trade chips in the past.

So far this season, Marcus Smart averaging 12.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game - and the 26-year-old is among the early frontrunners for the Defensive Player of the Year Award. Meanwhile, Hayward is currently out with a fractured hand, although he started the campaign in resurgent form as he averaged 18.9 points and 7.1 rebounds in 31.1 minutes per contest.