Boston Celtics: 2 ways the C’s could become a superteam by next season
By Mark Nilon
Blockbuster deal that lands Boston their answer at the pivot
Potential 2020-21 Boston Celtics starting lineup:
- PG – Kemba Walker
- SG – Marcus Smart
- SF – Gordon Hayward
- PF – Jayson Tatum
- C – Joel Embiid
All season we’ve discussed how badly the Boston Celtics need to improve their front court rotation, specifically at center. While Daniel Theis has had a solid 2019-20 season — averaging 9.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks on 57 percent shooting from the field — if the team could find a way to improve their starting pivot spot, they should highly consider jumping on the opportunity.
It’s nothing against Theis necessarily, it’s just that we don’t really believe he’s the answer for the team in the postseason where they’ll have to best teams consisting of dominant bigs like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Vučević and Joel Embiid in a seven game series.
However, all their answers could be solved in this department if they were to somehow acquire one of these aforementioned behemoths, one of whom appears to be more attainable than the others.
That man? Embiid.
The 76ers big, perhaps the best player at his position, finds himself in an odd situation in Philadelphia. Though no reports have come out of the organization that would have one assume they intend on dealing him, it appears many executives around the association believe the notion isn’t as far fetched as you’d think:
"“…..people who work in the league, who have to prepare in advance, are mulling over Joel Embiid potentially coming to market, whether that’s true or not… I mean, Josh Harris can come on this podcast and deny it if he wants, but the fact people are talking about it, is not good. It’s a symptom of where they are.” — Brian Windhorst"
With rumors circulating on top of this that there is tension between Embiid and fellow All-Star Ben Simmons, it might in fact be a realistic possibility that the franchise may decide to split the duo up that’s led the team to the second round of the playoffs the past two years and to an underwhelming — based on preseason expectations — 39-26 record in 2019-20.
Add in the fact that it has been stated that Embiid may be the more likely candidate to be shipped off and you have an intriguing situation for the C’s: to trade, or not to trade.
Here, we’re stating they could go for the latter option, and this package may be enough to get things done.
The biggest hit in this scenario is the fact that, in order to get Embiid, they’ll undoubtedly have to part ways with one of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Being that Tatum has morphed into Beantown’s number one option, it’s highly unlikely they’d consider dealing him.
Because of this, if they wished to acquire the talented center, they’d have to send Brown as the main draw in a package.
On the season, the fourth year wing is finding himself posting career highs all across the board: 20.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game on 49 percent shooting from the floor and 38 percent shooting from deep. He’d be a solid pairing alongside Simmons, as he’s a talented scorer who can create for himself while also showing the capability of spacing the floor in catch-and-shoot situations — something this 76ers team needs.
Along with Brown, the Celtics would be sending Theis who has proven more than capable of running alongside presumed replacement starting center Al Horford during his days in Boston, Carsen Edwards who provides solid potential of becoming a floor spacing offensive presence off the pine and three future first rounders.
An illustrious package? Of course! However, dealing for arguably the best center in the league is expected to cost a hefty price.
A Big-3 of Walker, Tatum and Embiid would easily be the best the east has to offer and, quite possibly, the NBA.