The Boston Celtics could target Memphis Grizzlies star Marc Gasol via trade within the coming year, according to a new report. The Celtics have added All-Stars Al Horford and Gordon Hayward to the roster over the last 12 months besides drafting exciting, young talent headlined by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

According to Chris Mannix of The Vertical, two league executives reckon that Gasol "could be a trade candidate for the Boston Celtics" in the near future. Gasol signed a five-year, US$113 million max contract with the Grizzlies ahead of the 2015-16 season. The Spaniard would be 34 when while entering the 2019-20 season. He would likely opt into his Player Option and become a free agent in July, 2020.

The Celtics would preferably want Gasol when he's still an elite rim protector, passer and three-point shooter. And with general manager Danny Ainge sitting on his chest of assets, a potential Marc Gasol trade could be pursued as early as the 2018 NBA Trade Deadline.

With the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets making significant leaps this offseason, the Grizzlies could find themselves out of the playoffs next year. They have lost long-term power Zach Randolph in free agency and are uncertain about the health of last year's lucrative acquisition, Chandler Parsons.

Marc Gasol to Celtics: Could Boston pursue big man in Feb. 2018?

If Memphis remain a sub .500 team in February, there's chance to secure a bag of assets in exchange for Gasol. These are assets that could include Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first-round pick and/or the Los Angeles Lakers' first-round pick.

Meanwhile, Mannix wrote in a report published Wednesday that Ainge is effectively building two separate Celtics teams -- the first unit featuring proven veterans such as Al Horford, Isiah Thomas and Gordon Hayward and the second unit breeding future stars Brown, Tatum and the future draft picks. "Figuring the Hayward/Brown/Tatum mix could be the most challenging. Would Ainge be willing to part with one of his prized forward prospects now that the 27-year-old Hayward is locked in for at least the next three seasons?"

The report adds that the Celtics do not regret missing out on either Jimmy Butler and/or Paul George this offseason, especially after the addition of Hayward. “For months, Boston hunted Hayward. It liked Jimmy Butler, it wanted Paul George, but it needed Hayward. Jae Crowder is a sturdy defender, but his offense comes and goes, and the Celtics desperately needed a wing player who could take some of the pressure off Isaiah Thomas,” wrote Mannix. “That’s Hayward, an efficient scorer (47.1 percent) who knocked down nearly 40 percent of his threes last season."

Marc Gasol averaged 19.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per season. A frontcourt duo of Gasol and Al Horford could solve Celtics’ defensive and rebounding issues. Stay tuned for the NBA Trade News and updates on a potential Marc Gasol to Celtics trade.