Boston Celtics: 2 trades C’s should consider involving Gordon Hayward
Gordon Hayward to the Orlando Magic
This trade right here is quite possibly the most fair deal we could possibly think of involving Gordon Hayward. Let’s dive into why this is!
In this exchange, the Boston Celtics would be receiving both Aaron Gordon and second year — will be third year — center Mo Bamba.
Similar to the career trajectory of Detroit Pistons’ power forward Blake Griffin, Gordon started out his professional career by impressing audiences with his freakish athleticism and arena rattling dunks but, over time, has managed to work himself into a more well rounded/ multidimensional player. In 2019-20, the 24 year old was finding himself having quite a nice season with the Magic, boasting averages of 14.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
With him in tow the Celtics would have a fantastic pick & roll four at their disposal who will draw a defense’s attention when in the vicinity of the rim, can sky high for lob passes and who has also improved upon his 3-point shot since entering the league.
The inclusion of Bamba in this, however… well, that’s the main reason why Boston should easily consider doing this deal. Listed at 7-0 with incredible athleticism, the 21 year old has managed to impress despite limited action (due to playing the same position as the face of the Magic himself, Nikola Vučević).
In just 14.5 minutes of play this season, Bamba boasted averages of 5.5 points, five boards and 1.4 blocks per game on 47 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent shooting from deep. Put these stats into per-36 minute conversions and the big is putting up 13.8 points, 12.4 rebounds and a whopping 3.5 blocks per game.
His ability to defend the paint, crash the glass and stretch the floor would indefinitely help this shamrocks squad. Add in the fact that they seriously need to bolster their interior rotation if they legitimately want to contend and you’ve got a no-brainer idea in dealing for both Gordon and Bamba.
And now to the other side of the equation: why would the Magic do this trade?
While we are in fact saying Boston should consider signing and trading Gordon Hayward, by no means are we indicating he is a bad player — far from it!
Putting up his best season in a Celtics uniform, through 45 outings the forward is putting up averages of 17.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists on 50 percent shooting from the field and 39 percent shooting from deep.
His skillset would only help improve Orlando’s catch-and-shoot numbers — due to both his own shooting stats as well as his distribution skills to dish it to others –, perimeter scoring (rank 25th in 3-point percentage) and help improve the team’s ball movement.
Shipping off Aaron Gordon and Mo Bamba would also give coach Steve Clifford more opportunities to get talented third year big Johnathan Isaac in different positions and lineups. Rolling out a starting unit of Markell Fultz, Evan Fournier, Gordon Hayward, Johnathan Isaac and Nikola Vučević actually appears — at least, on paper — to be a much more well rounded lineup than the one they currently have.
Sending one of Boston’s three draft picks to Orlando would be the ultimate deciding factor for the Magic front office to pull the trigger on sending their 2018 lottery pick to Beantown.