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Boston Celtics: Is trading up for Mo Bamba worth it?

By Alex Eddy

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: NBA Draft Prospect, Mohamed Bamba poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Combine circuit on May 15, 2018 at the Intercontinental Hotel Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: NBA Draft Prospect, Mohamed Bamba poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Combine circuit on May 15, 2018 at the Intercontinental Hotel Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics might be interested in trading up, but even a player like Mo Bamba may not be worth the cost

With Sean Deveney reporting that Boston is interested in Mo Bamba and could possibly move up in the draft to get him, Boston Celtics fans have gotten a little crazy. Why? Jaylen Brown‘s name has been involved.

Brown’s sophomore season gave us a taste of what to expect from him going forward. Parting with that star (or even superstar) potential would not sit well with Celtics’ fans.

I understand the intrigue with Bamba. His wingspan is something from out of this universe, his defensive potential/rim protection is sensational, and although a project, his offense is coming along.

Pairing him next to Al Horford would be a great fit, and honestly, Bamba might be the missing link for the Celtics. But is it worth giving up Jaylen Brown?

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Giving up Brown means that you are banking on Gordon Hayward to come back healthy and aside from that, you are losing one of your best perimeter defenders. Could you imagine both Marcus Smart and Brown gone?

I am a huge fan of the bigs in this class, this is a special group. I think both Bamba and Jaren Jackson Jr. would be awesome fits alongside Horford. Some rim protection and rebounding would help tremendously.

But in order to move up to get one of those guys, you would need to give up a player like Jaylen Brown. And although versatile bigs are valuable in today’s NBA, versatile wings are more valuable.

Also, it seems like Danny Ainge would like to keep his core guys if possible.

via NBC Sports Boston  

"He’s likely to go in the third-to-sixth range, so Boston, with the 27th pick, would have to trade up to get him – with speculation centering on Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier being among the players who could be moved. Those two can be considered “core guys” but when asked if he plans on returning the same team that lost in seven games to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, Ainge answered: “Probably not the entire team, but the main core guys, sure.”"

Next: Jaylen Brown can become the most important player on D

It will be interesting to see what Ainge decides to do. Although Bamba might be the missing link, is it worth trading up for him? If Brown is part of the deal, probably not, but possibly if the Celtics can somehow keep Brown.