Breaking down 3 Steven Adams trades the Boston Celtics can make

Acquiring Adams and a potential trade chip

In this first deal, Team USA participants Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart all stay intact as the team’s core. Instead, the recently-injured Gordon Hayward is sent out to a rebuilding Oklahoma City Thunder. In all likelihood the Thunder would then reroute Hayward to a different squad.

Hayward’s bloated deal makes his deal one of the only trade-able contracts on the Boston Celtics. With a recent injury derailing his All-Star comeback campaign, Hayward’s presence is downright uncomfortable…especially if he can convince Danny Ainge to bring him back on a long-term contract at an even higher value.

Look–his injury isn’t related to the broken leg he suffered in 2017 that prematurely ended his first season in Boston, but why not use his contract to address a position of major need? The Boston Celtics could use reinforcements (or a beautiful, brute of a Kiwi Warrior in Adams) at the center position. Daniel Theis is filling in admirably, but why not have a front-line center for the next two years with the team capped out and facing a hard-cap in 2019?

When it comes down to it, as great as the Celtics’ collective is defensively, they have a position to exploit. True contenders don’t face the sort of mismatch the Philadelphia 76ers will have in a potential Eastern Conference playoff match-up.

To make the deal work financially, Oklahoma City would receive Semi Ojeleye, who has no place on the current Boston Celtics roster. In return, the C’s receive a high-value expiring contract in Andre Roberson, whose salary could potentially be paired with the Memphis Grizzlies pick to bring in even more reinforcements.