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Boston Celtics: Constructing a trade for Kawhi Leonard

By Lucio Vainesman

SAN ANTONIO,TX - DECEMBER 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs complains to official after a basket against the Boston Celtics at AT&T Center on December 14, 2016 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO,TX - DECEMBER 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs complains to official after a basket against the Boston Celtics at AT&T Center on December 14, 2016 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics could be in a position to try and acquire Kawhi Leonard

It seems as if the Boston Celtics have been linked to almost every all-star in this league the past couple of off-seasons. A Jimmy Butler and a Paul George deal fell through, and Phil Jackson almost gifted the Celtics a unicorn entering his prime.

All these rumors dating back to the summer of 2014 when Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck promised fireworks. Well, Danny Ainge and Mike Zarren finally cashed in on this promise this summer adding a generational talent in Kyrie Irving and bringing in the Celtics’ biggest free agency signing in Gordon Hayward. We are yet to see this pairing come to fruition, in the meantime, we’ve gotten to see what the future holds for the Celtics and it is frightening for the rest of the league.

Why trade for Kawhi Leonard?

Ideally, this article would have been covering a potential Anthony Davis trade. Unfortunately, a team sitting in sixth place in the west has no incentive to trade away their best player and won’t do so.

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The recent news about a rift between Leonard and the organization gives the Celtics a rare opportunity of cashing in on a star player yet to reach his prime. Like the Irving trade, Danny has shown that he will deal anyone for a player that fits the criteria of a young star. As Jalen Rose reported on ESPN’s First Take “Kawhi Leonard wants out of San Antonio… the next super team, is wherever Kawhi Leonard ends up.”

Leonard makes perfect sense as a player, fitting both Danny Ainge’s vision and Brad Stevens on court personnel. Firstly, Ainge wants to compete at a high level now, but to truly reach super team status when the Warriors start to erode and falter, within the next two to three years. It is already happening here in the east, instead of cashing in assets when Lebron and his team were virtually unbeatable, hold on to the assets waiting for the eventual implosion of the Cavalier’s aging roster.

At the age of 26, Leonard compliments 19-year-old Jayson Tatum, 21-year-old Jaylen Brown, 25-year-old Irving, and 27-year-old Hayward. The implication here is that when the Celtics reach their peak in two to three years down the line, the Warriors, Rockets, Thunder, and surely the Cavaliers will all be shadows of their former selves.

Leonard also fits the build for how the Celtics have been so successful defensively this year. Ranking first in defensive efficiency is a result of the coaching and the culture of the Celtics’ organization, but it is also a result of length at every position. Tatum and Brown have been a disruptive force this season, seemingly contesting every shot with their never-ending wingspans. A potential lineup of Irving, Brown/Tatum, Leonard, Hayward, and Horford would be a defensive nightmare where four of the starts could switch from 1-5.

Constructing the perfect trade.

In order for trade to help both teams and maintain a certain aspect of being realistic, one of the Celtics rising stars (Tatum or Brown) has to be included in this package. The price for the acquiring the best two-way player in the league doesn’t come without sacrifice. If the Celtics could complete this deal without handing over Tatum, then it gets to the point where it would be hard to turn down.

Additionally, the Celtics must add a veteran player on a team-friendly deal to compliment this deal. An addition of Marcus Morris or Marcus Smart will also be necessary to construct this deal. Ideally, if the Celtics resign both players, it would be wise to hold on to Smart as he has proven invaluable to the Celtics success in recent years. Albeit with some hero ball and poor three-point shooting.

Finally, to cap off the financial side of the deal, the Celtics have to add a player like Aron Baynes or Guerschon Yabusele. And to cap off the deal, an addition of two late first rounders or one high pick would render this deal irresistible for the Spurs’ front office.

A first-round pick or two would be included.

Next: Youth Will be Difference Against Warriors

A deal of this magnitude would unlikely be constructed before the trading deadline. The Spurs are currently in a win-now mode and trading away a star for some picks and a younger player wouldn’t make sense. However, if the San Antonio Spurs have a first or second round exit in the playoffs, it would make sense for both franchises to make this move.

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