The Boston Celtics could use an All-Star starting center and it appears now, more than, ever one could be available for a relative bargain in Rudy Gobert.
The Boston Celtics’ — along with the rest of the NBA — season was officially suspended on March 11th due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Right before tip-off between the Utah Jazz and the Oklahoma City Thunder it was announced that the league’s regular season was to be suspended indefinitely after one of Utah’s players tested positive for the Coronavirus.
Of all the players in the association, All-Star Jazz center Rudy Gobert was the first to reportedly be diagnosed with the virus, thus making Adam Silver step into action and do what was right for the association; so he shut it down.
This was quite an ironic turn of events for Gobert for, not two days prior, he was seen making light of the virus by lightly touching everything in sight at a post-game press conference.
Since his diagnosis, 13 others have reportedly contracted the virus, one of which being Gobert’s own teammate, and fellow All-Star, Donovan Mitchell.
Now approximately a month since the league’s hiatus began reports have surfaced that players on the Utah Jazz are ticked off — and, rightly so — with Gobert for his childish antics, with one going as far to say that Mitchell is reportedly “reluctant” to repair his relationship with the big man.
First off, let me start off by saying I don’t blame the players on the Jazz to feel disdain for Gobert. Frankly, his actions were carless and inappropriate, especially for someone with as big of a platform as he has.
The idea that Donovan Mitchell is unwilling to salvage his relationship with the center is a totally appropriate response; after all, it very likely was Gobert’s carelessness that caused the third year pro to contract the potentially fatal illness.
That being said, for those who have followed the Houdini and, namely, myself during this pandemic — we sincerely thank you guys — I have oft said that, while there is no excuse for Gobert’s actions, by no means should this deem him a devil of a man like many people in the comments sections are advocating.
Yes, he made a foolish and careless decision to do what he did. However, it does not make him a horrid person overall.
Simply put, he’s a man who made a grave and foolish mistake. But it too would be a mistake if one believed Gobert won’t play again in the NBA after the dust has settled on these troubling times.
With the face of the franchise in Mitchell reportedly unlikely to forgive Gobert for his actions, one could certainly assume that the Jazz front office might soon look into ways of dealing the big man and his remaining year left on his salary.
With the fact that the Boston Celtics are just a stellar big man away from reaching the tip of the iceberg of NBA title contenders, perhaps they should look into potentially acquiring the defensive specialist at a discount.
Without further adieu, here are two trade packages the C’s could throw at Utah to potentially acquire Rudy Gobert.