Boston Celtics: 3 trade packages for Cs to move up in 2020 NBA Draft

Trade No. 3) Boston Celtics acquire the 2nd overall pick, Smart heads to Warriors

Frankly, this is not necessarily a trade that we believe the Boston Celtics should actually make. In fact, we’ve gone as far to say that the Cs should hang up the phone if the Warriors inquired about a Marcus Smart trade.

Having said that, this idea is one that has been in existence for the past few weeks after Bill Simmons suggested the swap on Zach Lowe’s podcast, The Lowe Post, and, thus, we feel like it’s something that must be discussed as realistic.

Simmons’ statement reads as follows:

"“So Golden State calls Boston, and they say we really want Marcus Smart…we will offer the No. 2. Overall Pick for Marcus Smart and Pick No. 14. What does Boston do?”"

Smart has been an integral part of this Celtics core for years and is now coming off of arguably his best season as a pro — averaged 12.9 points, 4.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game for the shamrocks. That said, there is an argument to be made that his erratic performances have led to the C’s demise on multiple occasions, most recent examples coming in this past Eastern Conference Finals where he hit six 3-pointers in game one only to convert on 7-for-28 the rest of the way.

Perhaps a high-end lottery pick on a cost-controlled contract would be enough to entice Boston to move on from the 26-year-old Swiss Army man. With the likes of either James Wiseman or Onyeka Okongwu likely to be available at the No. 2 slot, adding a center prospect of their caliber could be seen as a relatively low-risk, high-reward move that could wind up thrusting them into dynastic territory in the coming years.

In turn, as Blue Man Hoop writer Tony Pesta wrote, Smart would have an opportunity to thrive in Golden State:

"As for the Warriors, there is a chance they can provide the perfect environment for Smart to thrive. They won’t rely on Smart nearly as much as Boston does offensively – but they could use his tenacity on the defensive end to improve their perimeter defense. Smart’s role with the Warriors would more than likely be as a Sixth Man. This could be good for him as limiting his usage would make his inconsistencies less extreme. If the cost of earning an All-Defesnvie caliber guard is the No. 2 pick in a weak draft, the Warriors might have to jump on this opportunity."