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Boston Celtics: 3 reasons Donovan Mitchell is the preferred trade target over Rudy Gobert

By Andrew Hughes

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 06: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz and Rudy Gobert #27 talk against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on January 06, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 06: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz and Rudy Gobert #27 talk against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on January 06, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /

Price to pay in a trade

As mentioned in the previous slide, Gobert’s salary is exorbitant compared to not only the other Boston Celtics centers, but even in comparison to much of the roster. He currently makes $24 million, which would be difficult to match salaries with. Kemba Walker and Gordon Hayward are the only players that currently have a higher cap figure than the french center.

In order to acquire him, the team would have to gut it’s roster…unless it was willing to offload one of it’s core members. Would giving up on the growth and career trajectory of Jaylen Brown be worth giving up in a deal? What about trading away the heart and soul of the team in Marcus Smart? The pair, along with Hayward, would most certainly need to be included in any Gobert deal.

Mitchell, on the other hand, is still on his rookie contract. Acquiring him–at least from a numbers standpoint–is far more feasible for the team to keep its core together. Perhaps they can dangle a combination of Romeo Langford, Grant Williams and their three upcoming first round picks in the 2020 NBA Draft (and realistically several more firsts and/or pick swap) if the Jazz wanted to restock its draft cupboard while grooming his replacement in Langford.

No matter how the C’s could get there, acquiring Mitchell is a significantly easier task that could potentially keep the core in tact and allow the team to become an even stronger contender than they already are.

It just may make more sense for Ainge and co. to resist adding the “Stifle Tower” and instead focus on the “Spida” instead.

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