As part of the deal, Warriors guard Toney Douglas will go to the Heat and center Joel Anthony will move to the Celtics. In rebuilding mode, Boston will take in the Philadelphia 76ers' projected future first-round pick and a future second-round pick, which is owned by Miami, according to the report.

If the 76ers are out of the playoffs this season or the next, both picks will be in the second round, Yahoo! Sports reports.

Since allowing backup guard Jarrett Jack to walk to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the offseason, the Warriors have been in the mark for a second guard.

Golden State has used Andre Iguodala as a secondary ballhandler to spell Stephen Curry, but the hamstring injury that kept Iguodala out for some time tested that plan.

Crawford proved to be a capable ballhandler for the Celtics with Rajon Rondo out for an ACL injury. As a result, Crawford has put together one of his most complete seasons with 13.7 points, 5.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds.

On the flip side, Brooks is a scorer who faced a step back in playing time after being traded to the Celtics in the deal that sent Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets. That is unlikely to change with the Warriors' wealth of wings, which includes Iguodala, Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes.

For Boston, the move is about adding picks from which it will build its roster, but the Warriors consider themselves a contender in the Western Conference and will use Crawford to bolster that effort.


RONDO RETURN


Rajon Rondo took a step toward returning to action on Wednesday, working out with members of Boston's NBA Development League team at the Celtics' practice facility.

Celtics spokesman Brian Olive said the closed workout of unknown duration took place in Waltham, Mass.

Rondo has been out for nearly a year. He was not available for comment.

The Celtics had lost nine in a row going into Wednesday night's game against the Toronto Raptors at the TD Garden, but Rondo was not expected to play. The four-time All-Star hasn't played since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last Jan. 25, and he has been hinting that he would like to return for Friday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Olive said any decision on Rondo's return would be up to him and coach Brad Stevens. The coach said this week that Rondo would be put through some physical workouts to make sure he is ready, but ultimately it would be up to the doctors and trainers and Rondo.

One of those workouts was on Wednesday, when the Celtics announced at 12:26 p.m. that he had been assigned to the Maine Red Claws of the Development League and then announced at 2:19 p.m. that he had been recalled.

"Rajon is progressing terrifically in his rehab and this is the next step," general manager Danny Ainge said. "This is a brief assignment so that Rajon can participate in a workout this afternoon with the Red Claws and he will be called back up to the Celtics upon the conclusion of the workout."

In his last availability, on Friday, Rondo said he hoped to make his season debut before the All-Star break; Boston's last game before the break is Feb. 12. But on Tuesday he sent a tweet saying, "29,233,380 secs" — an apparent reference to the amount of time between his surgery and Friday night's game against the Lakers.

The Celtics had lost 12 of 13 heading into Wednesday night's game.


NOEL CLEARED


Philadelphia 76ers rookie Nerlens Noel, who suffered an ACL injury in his lone year at Kentucky, has received clearance from Dr. James Andrews to resume basketball activities, according to an ESPN.com report.

Noel made the trip to Florida to have Andrews reevaluate his injured knee last week, and, now that he's been given the freedom to return, Noel could be back playing basketball following the All-Star break, ESPN.com reports.

Before this recent development, Noel did participate in one-on-one games with Sixers assistant Greg Foster, a former NBA player. He has been rehabbing the injury for quite some time of the court as well.

The No. 6 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Noel has yet to play an NBA game. The Sixers competed hard without him to start the season, but have come down to reality recently. They sit at 12-25 at the moment and appear on the path toward another lottery pick in 2014.


HUNTER SUIT


A judge has ruled that former executive director Billy Hunter's suit against the NBA players' association for breach of contract can continue, but dismissed most of his claims against Derek Fisher and all of them against a publicist who used to work with the Oklahoma City guard.

Hunter contends he had a valid contract when he was ousted last February and is owed the more than $10.5 million that was remaining.

Wednesday's ruling in Los Angeles Superior Court allowed that part of the suit to remain, but threw out 12 of the 14 claims against Fisher, with attorney Andrew Kassof saying the remaining two will be ruled on shortly. Kassof represents Fisher and publicist Jamie Wior.

Hunter sued the NPBA, Fisher, its former president, and Wior last May, saying they conspired to undermine his authority during the 2011 lockout, then have his employment terminated following it.

Contributors: DeAntae Prince, The Associated Press