Boston Celtics: 2 multi-team Gordon Hayward trades to the New York Knicks

Hayward 3-teamer with Houston

The first deal is as massive as it gets, with the Celtics, Knicks, and Rockets all achieving key objectives for next season (more on that later). Boston’s haul would include 3-point sniper and potential small-ball center Robert Covington, Brad Wanamaker replacement Frank Ntilikina and another 3-and-D wing in Danuel House.

The Knicks would bring on Gordon Hayward and Russell Westbrook for the small price of Vincent Poirier’s final year of his deal, while the Rockets begin a rebuild in earnest with Kevin Knox, Romeo Langford, and four first-round picks being tied to Taj Gibson, Julius Randle, and Carsen Edwards.

Why the Boston Celtics do it

If you were to swap a player (paired with picks) with a line of 17/6/4 for a 3-point hybrid modern big, a young and capable defender in need of a better situation, and a capable long-distance shooter who can body up his man on defense, it’d be a decision you’d have to think about.

Remember that said 17/6/4 performer only showed up in five postseason contests and went 3-2 in the games he played, and the decision get’s slightly easier.

Why the New York Knicks do it

For years, the Knicks have been looking to make the splashy offseason acquisitions to propel themselves to the top of the Eastern Conference, but that has never materialized meaningfully. The closest they got to having a premiere lineup were the days of Carmelo Anthony, A’mare Stoudemire, and Tyson Chandler. The furthest was last summer when dreams of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Zion Williamson became a reality of Julius Randle, Elfrid Payton, and R.J. Barrett.

Taking on Westbrook and Hayward could theoretically pay off, especially with young talent with high ceilings like Mitchell Robinson and Barrett sticking around in the deal. It probably wouldn’t, but who knows in times like these?

Why the Houston Rockets do it

Something has to give in Houston. No, I won’t say: “Houston, we have a problem.” I’ll only indirectly say it by pointing out the cliche.

Anyway, the rebuild should begin as soon as possible, but if the team doesn’t want to part with James Harden yet, they can do worse than bringing on a diamond in the New York Knicks rough in Kevin Knox, a win-now veteran in Taj Gibson, and two 2019 draft picks in Romeo Langford and Carsen Edwards.

Getting four first-round picks is a nice way to recoup some value from acquiring Westbrook last summer.