BOSTON (CBS) — The NBA trade deadline is creeping closer, and the rumors are starting to heat up.

The Celtics, despite their setback on Tuesday night in Milwaukee, appear poised to add a piece or two to really bolster the team for what could be a decent playoff run. And according to Yahoo’s Chris Mannix, that player could be Atlanta’s Al Horford.

“I think Boston, Al Horford is a legitimate possibility for the Celtics,” Mannix said Tuesday on CSNNE. “I think that is one of the guys across the league that Danny Ainge is the most excited about. He is a four man that would fit right into what Boston is trying to do. It would cost a lot of money to re-sign him in the offseason, but I think Boston is willing to play it, because they haven’t paid a lot of money for players in recent years.”

Horford is averaging 15.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game this year. The 6-foot-10, 245-pound 29-year-old out of Florida has career averages of 14.3 points and 8.9 rebounds in his nine years with the Hawks. ESPN reported Tuesday that the Hawks will likely entertain offers for their core players, including Horford, Kyle Corver and Jeff Teague.

Despite Boston almost assuredly having interest in Horford, Mannix cautioned that if a deal does indeed happen, it likely won’t be until deadline day.

“Don’t get too pumped up right now, though. This is the silly season, when teams like Atlanta ask for ridiculous sums of draft picks and players to get a guy like Al Horford,” Mannix said on CSNNE. “Wait until February 18th, right around noon, that’s when things really get done. I do believe Boston is very much in the mix for Al Horford.”