Boston Celtics: exploring several potential trades via ESPN Trade Machine

The Boston Celtics once again find themselves in a unique position as the trading deadline is approaching. For the C’s to make a run in the Eastern Conference, a trade for a big man is needed.

With the trade deadline approaching, there have been many rumors and speculation surrounding the Boston Celtics. A lot of the speculation has to do with Gordon Hayward’s player option for next season, and the team’s need for a big man this season. Thanks to ESPN’s Trade Machine, fans are able to play “GM” and see if potential player-to-player trades could successfully work in regards to the financial aspect of both teams involved.

After playing around with the trade machine for a while, I was able to come up with quite a few different trade packages that seemed to work out well. Now some of these were realistic options, while others were for fun as I was curious to see if the trade could even be pulled off. As I said before, the trade machine is a player-to-player trading tool and it doesn’t take other assets into account.

Gordon Hayward – Andre Drummond

The intriguing part about this trade is that both Hayward and Drummond have player options for next season. Hayward’s ($35 million) is worth a little more than that of Drummond’s ($28.7 million) but the trade can work. As much as Hayward’s veteran-ship is important to the Celtics, the value of a dominant big man is needed much more at this point. The Celtics are built to contend for a title this season, but not without a big man.

Daniel Theis or Enes Kanter, Vincent Poirier – Montrezl Harrell

Montrezl Harrell is 6-foot-7, 240 pounds, a big forward who can slide in and play center as well. Harrell is averaging 19.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game this season for the Los Angeles Clippers. He’s set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season. At this point in the season, there really isn’t a strong need for Vincent Poirier other than an insurance policy, but Robert Williams should be back at some point if we’re looking at it from that perspective.

Gordon Hayward – Hassan Whiteside

Hassan Whiteside is having a monster season this year and is set to be a free agent at the end of the season. At 7 feet tall, Whiteside could provide some serious rim protection, get rebounds, and even score points. Whiteside is averaging double-double of 15.8 points and 14 rebounds per game this season for the Portland Trailblazers.

Vincent Poirier, Semi Ojeleye – JaVale McGee

I don’t see this trade happening, but it’s an inexpensive way for the Celtics to get another big man on their squad. McGee is averaging more points (6.9), rebounds (5.7), and minutes per game this season (16.6) than both Poirier and Ojeleye.

Gordon Hayward – Karl-Anthony Towns

Imagine if the Boston Celtics were able to land KAT? That would be a game-changer to say the least. He’s averaging 26.5 points and 11.7 rebounds per game this season. KAT signed a 5-year, $158,253,000 fully guaranteed contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The only reason this trade will work is because of the amount of Hayward’s contract. This trade is highly unlikely but it’s great to dream, isn’t it?

Gordon Hayward, Semi Ojeleye – Nikola Vucevic

Vucevic signed a 4-year, $100 million fully guaranteed contract with the Orlando Magic. He’s averaging 18.5 points and 11.3 rebounds per game this season. This would be another inexpensive way to obtain one of the better big men in the league. It’s important to remember other assets could be included in theses trades, such as the rights to the Memphis Grizzlies draft pick.

Enes Kanter, Vincent Poirier – Brook Lopez

Lopez and the Bucks agreed on a 4-year guaranteed contract worth $52 million. He’s averaging 10.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game this season. This isn’t a trade I’d like to see go down, Kanter has improved immensely since the start of the season, but Lopez has shown to be pretty reliable down the stretch.

Enes Kanter, Vincent Poirier, Semi Ojeleye, Carsen Edwards – Clint Capela

Capela has been a player the Boston Celtics have been interested in for a while now. Capela signed a 5-year, $90 million contract with the Rockets last year. He’s averaging a double-double this season of 14.5 points and 14.4 rebounds per game. He holds a hefty contract but this would be a move in considerations of the future. It’s important to remember other assets can be included in place of a player.

Daniel Theis, Enes Kanter, Semi Ojeleye – Jonas Valanciunas

I don’t like seeing trades including Theis, as he is a very important piece to this Boston Celtics team. But again, looking into the future, Valanciunas could hold solid value playing in Boston. He’s averaging 14.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game this season and is signed through 2022 on what is a 3-year, $45,000,000 million contract.

Gordon Hayward – Kristaps Porzingis

Obviously this trade wouldn’t happen in real-life, but it is in fact possible due to the richest of Hayward’s contract. Porzingis is 7-foot-3, 240 pounds, and is an absolute monster on the court. Porzingis is averaging 17.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game this season.

Enes Kanter, Vincent Poirier, Daniel Theis, Semi Ojeleye – Myles Turner

Myles Turner could be on his way out of Indiana. The reigning NBA blocks champion would help protect the rim for the Celtics, while also being able to provide solid offense on the other end. Turner is averaging 12.9 points and 6 rebounds per game this season. Turner and the Pacers agreed to a 4-year, $80 million contract that runs him through 2023.

As I said in the beginning, the trade machine doesn’t allow us to include the other assets into these trade packages, which is probably why some of these trades seem player loaded. Obviously Hayward is included in many due to his player option and rich contract.

Kanter also has a player option in 2020 but he is on a team friendly contract. Vincent Poirier seems to be an insurance policy at this point and if a team is intrigued by his services, the Boston Celtics should pursue that avenue.

As the trade deadline approaches, it’ll be intriguing to see what the Boston Celtics do in regards to upgrading their roster and center position specifically.