2 offseason moves that instantly set the Celtics up to raise Banner 19

Maybe the Boston Celtics need to take a significant swing to end next season at the NBA's mountaintop. Perhaps the duckboats venturing down Boylston Street next June require a blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, in this author's opinion, the risk is too steep.

The Celtics already have a proof of concept. They know that with the right talent surrounding them, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown can lead this franchise to a championship. They're also aware that, as impressive as the former looked in his first few months back from a torn Achilles, he should be even better next season.

"I get a long offseason to really get back to 110 percent, I guess that's the silver lining of it all," expressed Tatum at exit interviews at the Auerbach Center. "I'm proud of the fact I was able to prove to myself that I can still play this game at a very, very high level, even not being 100 percent of myself," he continued. "Checking that box off mentally, because that was a question in my head. There was doubts of, 'Will I be able to be the same player? Will I be able to play at a high level after this injury?' Now, I've proven it and shown that, even at 80/85 percent of myself."

And while Antetokounmpo, a two-time league MVP, is a bigger star than Brown, he would arrive in Boston with concerns about his durability and how well his rampaging style of play would age.

Instead, from this vantage point, the best path forward for the NBA's original monarchy is to keep Tatum and Brown together. If you take Brad Stevens' comments from an overall candid end-of-season press conference at face value, then he agrees.

When asked about making any drastic moves this summer, the Celtics' president of basketball operations responded that the team's decision-makers will "get together and determine the best course of action for building the best team that we can, that's also sustainable over a long period." He also stated, "We just have to be better around the margins."

Yes, this was the same press conference where Stevens said they must make more of an impact at the rim, need to add to their roster to do so, and that they've had a hard time generating easier looks from their first-shot offense.

If the organization's decision-makers believe Boston must address this and that the best approach this offseason is to improve around the margins, keeping its star duo intact, here are a pair of moves that could satisfy their search.

Targets who could help the Celtics capture Banner 19

One of those individuals is Collin Sexton. Inserting Payton Pritchard into the starting lineup would make the first unit faster and more dynamic. It would afford Tatum, Brown, and Derrick White more off-ball reps. Joe Mazzulla could then turn to his new sixth man, a guard who plays like his hair is on fire and produced 6.6 points in the paint per game, accounting for 42.5 percent of his scoring last season, per NBA.com. 

Sexton has career averages of 18.3 points, 3.6 assists, and nearly 1.0 steals per contest. He's also knocking down 38.9 percent of the 3.9 shots he hoists from behind the arc.

Signing him with the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, valued at just over $15 million, seems realistic. If so, he'd bring energy off the bench, a downhill approach, and a reliable catch-and-shoot option.

To bolster the center position, on the free-agent market, the ideal acquisition is Isaiah Hartenstein. The Oklahoma City Thunder may decide to pony up to keep him. However, he has a $28.5 million club option for next season, right as maximum salary extensions for Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren go into effect. 

If this is his last playoff run in Oklahoma City, Boston could utilize its $27.7 million traded-player exception [TPE] to strike a deal with the Thunder that nets the franchise a skilled seven-footer in his prime.

The 28-year-old Hartenstein's passing, dribble-handoffs, and impact as a screener would elevate the Celtics' offense. He also finishes well around the basket, with floaters representing a go-to part of his repertoire.

The eight-year veteran also averaged 3.2 offensive rebounds this season. That's the sixth-most among those who appeared in at least 45 games while logging at least 24 minutes.

At the other end of the floor, as a cog in a defensive dynamo, Hartenstein registered a 103.2 defensive rating. He also yielded the fewest points in the paint [18.7] this season, per NBA.com.

He would pair with Neemias Queta to give Boston a potent 1-2 punch at the center position.

The same is true for Mitchell Robinson. Like Hartenstein, his current team may have zero intention of losing him this offseason. However, if the Celtics can pry him from the New York Knicks, it would be quite the coup.

Robinson is a beast on the boards. He grabbed 8.8 per game during the regular season. That includes 4.2 at the offensive end. He could set punishing screens for Boston's ball handlers and provide them with another lob threat besides Queta. He's also a reliable rim protector, swatting 1.2 shots per tilt this season and averaging 1.7 blocks for his career.

Sexton's a more realistic target than Hartenstein or Robinson. However, one of those two centers could conceivably shake free. If the Celtics are willing to utilize the non-taxpayer mid-level exception and their most significant TPE, they could go from being a team Brad Stevens views as not being far away to one capable of winning a championship without breaking up Brown and Tatum.

It's not the sexy offseason some are clamoring for. However, these two aforementioned tools could go toward acquiring players, like the ones mentioned. It's a path that would give Boston a deep, talented team that, with an even better version of Tatum next season, could deliver Banner 19.

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