Hardwood Houdini
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3 blockbuster deals the Boston Celtics could make

By Mark Nilon

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 19: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves fight for position during the game on December 19, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 19: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves fight for position during the game on December 19, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Boston Celtics (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

DeAndre Ayton

DeAndre Ayton is a strange name to be appearing on this list to many of you. Why would the Phoenix Suns already be giving up on the former #1 overall pick in the NBA Draft? How could they possibly move on from a player they honestly believed was better than Luka Dioncic?

Well, none other than long-time Boston Celtics aficionado Bill Simmons threw out his stance into the universe on what the Suns should do regarding their big man:

"“I would be shopping him right now,” Simmons said of second-year center Deandre Ayton. “If I were the Suns, I wouldn’t want Ayton on that team. I would want to build a really fun kind of Portland Blazersy-two-years-ago type of team around like guards and shooting and all that. I don’t know where he fits in.”"

The podcast–that also featured Zach Lowe–was focused on Ayton’s shortcomings:

"“He might be the league-leader in … shortest amount of time between ball hitting fingertips and ball being shot towards the rim,” Lowe said. “All that dude wants to do is shoot mid-range jumpers. He catches the ball at 18 feet, and it’s like, I don’t even blink and the ball is already at the basket. “He’s going to be one of these centers who’s 7-1 and giant and shoots two free throws per game, because all he wants to do is shoot mid-range jumpers.”"

The NBA is a funny place. When things like this are spoken, because the league is more tightly knit than other sports, they could have longstanding ramifications.

Teammates could lose trust in the big man after hearing Simmons and Lowe expose his offensive approach. Ayton himself could get fed up with the way coach Monty Williams has been handling him in year two. Aron Baynes has sneaked ahead of him on the depth chart at times this season.

If there is any sort of irreconcilable differences in Phoenix, the Boston Celtics should pounce. If they could package together multiple first rounders with youngsters like Romeo Langford, Grant Williams, Tremont Waters and Carsen Edwards (basically any rookie besides Tacko Fall), the C’s could be stealth suitors if things don’t improve in the desert.

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