Boston Celtics: Pros and cons of a Jaylen Brown/Gordon Hayward for Ben Simmons swap

Cons

The first and most obvious problem with this proposed swap is the redundancy it would bring to the Boston Celtics lineup. With Walker and Tatum both able to take the reigns of the offense for any given stretch, adding a player who needs the ball in his hands to thrive makes for a questionable fit all told.

Until Simmons is able to obtain a reliable 3-point shot, his fit in most lineups with established floor generals won’t be ideal. This deal adds an uncertain jumper while shipping off two 3-point snipers in Hayward (39 percent) and Brown (38 percent).

Not to mention, this also strengthens the Sixers lineup around Embiid…assuming they are able to find an adequate replacement at the point guard position. The current iteration of the 76ers is one the C’s have exploited in the past and–who knows–maybe one they’d be exploiting at this very moment if the playoffs were happening as scheduled.

Trading two good players for one potentially great player is usually a good idea, but with a positional fit as awkward as Simmons on the C’s, it isn’t an idea Danny Ainge should seriously consider…especially considering Hayward is in the midst of a comeback season and Brown has likely yet to reach his peak himself.

Sometimes, the best deal is no deal. While Buckley proposed an intriguing swap, it isn’t one that would benefit the Boston Celtics now or in the future.

Verdict: the cons outweigh the pros…no deal.