Boston Celtics: B/R labels several Cs targets as “likely” to be traded

The Boston Celtics have been linked to several players who Bleacher Report deems as “likely to change teams” this offseason.

It’s not really an offseason unless the Boston Celtics are intertwined with some of the top names rumored to be available, be it by means of free agency or trade. Due to the team’s salary cap situation, the way many publications see the shamrocks adding more top-tier talent before the start of the 2020-21 campaign is via the latter option: offseason trades.

While we do find ourselves covering this hypothetical scenario often, by no means is HH the only outlet that plays the pretend role of General Manager for the Cs. From Celtics Blog to ESPN, many of the biggest publications out there like to dip their toes into the proverbial sands of trade ideas.

We’ve seen a plethora of this year’s most buzzed-about talents linked to Celtics and, naturally, we’ve covered these ideas profusely. To add fuel to these hypothetical fires, Bleacher Report recently came out with an article discussing the league’s best players that are most likely to be dealt this offseason and, to no one’s surprise, found 3 talents that we’ve covered frequently.

The biggest name, as one can probably guess, was Victor Oladipo, followed by the likes of his teammate Myles Turner and disgruntled Sacramento Kings baller Buddy Hield.

Amongst these three players, the one B/R seemed to think would be the most likely target of the Boston Celtics was Turner and, frankly, we couldn’t agree more.

Writer Greg Swartz went into further detail over why teams such as the Cs should be interested in acquiring the big man’s services:

"While the 24-year-old center still has three years and $54 million remaining on his deal, his numbers were down all year until he played without Domantas Sabonis in the postseason.Sabonis missed the first-round series against the Miami Heat due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot, and Turner averaged 15.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.0 blocks while shooting 56.8 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three, all well above his regular-season averages.Playing alongside Sabonis severely limited Turner’s individual production over the course of the season. He averaged 25.7 points and 12.0 rebounds per 100 possessions on 48.1 percent shooting with Sabonis on the bench, compared to 15.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and a 42.8 field-goal percentage when the two shared the floor.The Pacers should see what they can get for Turner, especially since Sabonis can take over as the team’s starting center. Turner has already led the NBA in blocked shots, he’s on a good contract, and he can play a modern game with his floor-spacing.The Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics should all be calling about him."

In Beantown, there is certainly no Sabonis to infringe upon Turner’s production. A player such as the 5th-year-pro would be an ideal fit at the pivot in Brad Stevens’ system.

His ability to consistently space the floor, gobble up rebounds, and protect the rim — led the league in blocks in 2019 and was ranked 4th in 2020 — would be welcomed with open arms to a Celtics team that was lacking in both categories from the center position seemingly all throughout this past postseason.

If I’m Danny Ainge, I’m monitoring Myles Turner’s availability closely.