A pipe dream sign-and-trade option for the Boston Celtics

As each day passes in the Boston Celtics’ offseason, the rumor mill continues to churn. More and more it seems like it’s a forgone conclusion that Kyrie Irving is gone.  With that in mind, what would be the best pipe dream sign and trade the Celtics could do to bring in a top player that would fill a need?

When thinking about players that absolutely destroy the Boston Celtics over the past few years and fits a need for the green and white, one player really comes to mind. His name is Devin Booker.

Over the past three seasons, he has toasted the Celtics averaging 37.5 points per game, having games of scoring 70, 38 and 25 over that span. 70! Booker dropped 70 in Boston! He is still only 22 years old and will be turning 23 this October.

His max contract kicks in next season at a whopping $158M with cap hits that range from $27 million to a $35 million over the next five seasons. When this contract is up, Booker will be 27 and able to sign a new contract. What a life!

By doing a sign and trade, Irving would still be able to get his super max contract (possibly up to $250 over 5 years). It also wouldn’t seem like the trade the Celtics made to bring in Kyrie was all for not.  Essentially it would look like Boston traded Thomas, Crowder, Sexton and Kyrie for Booker, who is younger than all of those guys, except Sexton, who is only 20 years old.

To match up the cap numbers, Phoenix can send over Dragan Bender, who Danny Ainge loved during the 2016 NBA Draft and/or some additional pieces. Danny Ainge can then put on his general managing hat and convince Terry Rozier to stay . Then you’d have a nucleus of:

G – Terry Rozier (25), Devin Booker (22), Marcus Smart (25)

F – Jayson Tatum (21), Jaylen Brown (22), Gordon Hayward (29), Semi Ojeleye (24)

C – Al Horford (32), Robert Williams (21)

The Celtics also have three first round picks in this year’s draft and Memphis’ top 6 protected pick next year as bait to lure another player to Boston.

Would a combo of the above be enough to entice Anthony Davis to join the Celtics and stay long-term? Did you know that both Booker and AD both played at Kentucky? Maybe not together, but when you play at the same school, you share in a bond.

I know this is just a pipe dream, but we have seen crazier trades happen in the past. Would Kyrie be happy to play in a small market, getting paid the super max, not having to answer to the media and scrutiny of a city that takes your word as bond, and have Deandre Ayton and a young core to play with?

Do I need to remind you that Toronto came out of nowhere to land Kawhi Leonard and punch a ticket to the Finals this year?

To quote Kevin Garnett again: “Anything is possible”.