"While the Celtics continue to tend to their own Garden in hopes of retaining their own free agents, the club is exploring a number of other options, as well.

League sources said yesterday that the Celts have expressed trade interest in guards Leandro Barbosa of Phoenix and Rudy Fernandez of Portland.

The Celtics probably are using Rasheed Wallace's contract in their attempt to acquire Barbosa, who averaged 9.5 points in 17.9 minutes for the Suns this season.

Barbosa will make $7.1 million in 2010-11 and has a player option for $7.6 million the following season. Wallace is on the books for $6,322,320, which is well within the acceptable range (125 percent plus $100,000) for a trade under NBA rules.

The Suns then could let Wallace retire and be responsible on their cap only for the buyout, which the C's could help with, too."