We are just a couple of days away from the trade deadline and the Boston Celtics have been playing at the top of their game lately. They have won 10 of their last 12 games, with some quite impressive numbers during that span. They are third in points per game with 113.1, just behind the Golden State Warriors and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Celtics also rank second in assists (27.1), third in rebounds (46.2), first in steals (10), and third in plus/minus and net rating. They are also playing at the third highest pace (102.9) in the NBA this season as well.
It’s not just the numbers though. The overall performance of the team and the high level of execution indicate great team chemistry. Every player in the rotation seems to understand and have accepted his role on the team and that makes things easier for head coach Brad Stevens. However, with all these in mind, perhaps things are not so easy for the Celtics’ general manager, Danny Ainge, who has to decide if it’s the right time to make a trade and change things up.
I suppose that the final decision depends on the deal offered. If a superstar, who is considered a great fit for the team, becomes available then the front office must try to work on a deal. On the other hand, making a trade just to grab a better role player than an existing one is not a risk that is worth taking by the team.
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Among the players who have been involved at times in Celtics trade rumors, a great example is Al Horford of the Atlanta Hawks, who is a perfect fit for the center position. The four-time All-Star could become the Celtics’ go-to scorer in the frontcourt and he fits very well in Stevens’ system. If the asking price is not that high, Danny Ainge should make a move.
Speaking of great fits, Utah’s Gordon Hayward is another guy who would fit in Celtics’ system and it’s more than certain that Brad Stevens would love to work with him again after their years at Butler. Although, Hayward is not going to be available during this trade deadline, the Celtics should make an attempt in the next off-season.
One thing is for sure, Danny Ainge has an inquiring mind and he will keep trying to improve the team in every possible way. He has the ability to understand which player is a good fit for the Celtics organization and is also quite resourceful in finding ways to make things work for him and the team.
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The best thing for the Celtics is that even if they don’t manage to make a trade, they won’t have to worry so much. They will still be one of the top teams in the East and probably take the three seed and at the same time will still be loaded with a vast amount of future draft picks, including Brooklyn’s 2016 pick, to make things work for them during the summer.