The Boston Celtics could be in for a big offseason if they pursue any of the trade targets Bleacher Report named for the upcoming offseason.
Bleacher Report recently listed every team’s top offseason trade targets in a piece published recently, but we know why you’re here. You don’t care who the Phoenix Suns or Sacramento Kings acquire in the offseason…you want to know where the Boston Celtics have their eyes fixated.
According to B/R’s Zach Buckley, the C’s could be shooting for the moon this offseason. The Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid and the Atlanta Hawks’ John Collins were the top two trade targets listed.
For Embiid, the rationale for a move revolves around the narrative that he and Ben Simmons are far from a perfect match to lead a franchise together. If Philly is ousted early again in the playoffs, perhaps it could consider switching out one of its stars for better fitting pieces (like Jaylen Brown as Buckley suggests).
A trade for Collins would probably be easier to pull off, given his lower salary and imminent contract extension. The Hawks may be afraid to pony up the cash for a long-term deal for the bouncy big man, and so far he hasn’t exactly produced ideal results with Trae Young in the win column despite the highlight-reel plays the duo has produced together.
Also named in the piece was Patty Mills of the San Antonio Spurs, who unlike the other two, plays on the perimeter as a combo guard. While he would be an immediate upgrade over Brad Wanamaker behind Kemba Walker on the depth chart, Mills carries a salary north of $13 million for the upcoming 2020-21 season, making it difficult to match salaries in a deal.
Acquiring any of these players for the right price would immediately elevate the C’s, but finding said right price could be tricky. Embiid is the only player of the three worth breaking up their core for, but it remains to be seen whether or not the C’s should even do such a thing. That will be determined by the upcoming playoffs in the Lake Buena Vista bubble in Walt Disney World.