Boston Celtics: 2 multi-team Gordon Hayward trades to the Indiana Pacers

The Nylons deal

My co-editor Mark Nilon, or as the Hooligan calls him, “Nylons”, came up with a very symmetrical three-way trade that lands Ben Simmons, Myles Turner, Doug McDermott, and Jeremy Lamb on the Boston Celtics, Victor Oladipo, Kemba Walker, Daniel Theis and a second-round pick to the Philadelphia 76ers, and Shake Milton, Matisse Thybull, Romeo Langford, Al Horford, two first-rounders and–and, of course, Gordon Hayward–to the Indiana Pacers.

Why the Boston Celtics do it

A lineup of Ben Simmons, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Myles Turner would be the best defensive starting group in the NBA. Full stop. Turner’s floor-spacing abilities also open up the offense for a team that would need room to operate given the downgrade in shooting from Kemba Walker to Simmons.

Doug McDermott and Jeremy Lamb are two capable shooters who dramatically raise the scoring ceiling of the second unit.

Why the Philadelphia 76ers do it

The Ben Simmons-Joel Embiid pairing is set to be broken up any day now, so why not nuke it in a deal that would bring back two All-Stars in Kemba Walker and Victor Oladipo. The pair would give the 76ers a backcourt capable of keeping the team afloat when Embiid is either resting or injured.

Daniel Theis would be the best backup big man the 76ers have had since the Sam Hinkie days of misfiring on yearly draft choices for a franchise center.

Why the Indiana Pacers do it

The Pacers would be taking on big money in this deal, but they would also be getting back value on the deals of Turner and Oladipo, who are reportedly unhappy in Indiana. Hayward would be the perfect third wheel of a Malcolm Brogdon-Domantas Sabonis core, while Horford would likely fit better next to Sabonis than he ever would with Embiid.

Shake Milton, Matisse Thybull, Romeo Langford, and a slew of first-round picks is a good way to build a bench for now and for the future. All sides accomplish what they need to in this deal.