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3 players who could one day play alongside Jayson Tatum on the Boston Celtics

By Andrew Hughes

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 3: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics and Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks look on in the final minutes of a game at State Farm Arena on February 3, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 3: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics and Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks look on in the final minutes of a game at State Farm Arena on February 3, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Deandre Ayton

Noted Boston Celtics fan Bill Simmons raised eyebrows earlier this season when he mentioned the possibility of the Phoenix Suns shopping the #1 overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft, Deandre Ayton.

On Zach Lowe’s podcast, Simmons took numerous shots at Ayton, saying he was too quick to shoot when the ball touched his hands and questioned whether or not the Suns can win with the center as a centerpiece.

"If I were the Suns, I wouldn’t want Ayton on that team. I would want to build a really fun…team around guards and shooting and all that, and I don’t know where he fits in."

Could this be a ploy to knock down his trade value so his favorite team can swoop in with a low-ball offer for him? Doubtful. Obviously, that’d be a best case scenario for Boston Celtics fans.

Still, we’ve seen Ayton start the game off the bench for Aron Baynes, owner of a $4 million expiring deal in his first season in Phoenix. When Ayton was suspended to start the season, Phoenix was able to hang in the playoff picture for the season’s first quarter before dropping off.

Ayton’s presence wasn’t the cause, but the optics don’t look great. That is good for any prospective poachers, like Danny Ainge and co.

Adding the big-man to a lineup that features Tatum could give the C’s a chance to have a modern-day version of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal if just about everything broke right in Boston. While that may sound like hyperbole, having two top 3 picks from recent drafts should give fans dynastic expectations.

If things continue to sour in the valley, perhaps Ainge could make this duo a reality down the line.

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