Boston Celtics: 2 multi-team Gordon Hayward trades to the Toronto Raptors

A 4-team deal involving James Harden

The Houdini responded to rumors that James Harden could potentially be traded out of Houston with a whopper of a deal that was too big for our trade graphic.

And I’m doing it again:

"Boston Celtics get: Myles Turner, Robert Covington, Doug McDermott Toronto Raptors get: James Harden, Gordon Hayward, Daniel Theis Indiana Pacers get: Pascal Siakam, Danuel House Houston Rockets get: OG Anunoby, Norm Powell, Patrick McCaw, Romeo Langford, Aaron Holiday, Goga Bitadze, Carsen Edwards, 2020 Memphis Grizzlies first-round pick, 2020 Milwaukee Bucks first-round pick, 2020 Toronto Raptors first-round pick, 2021 Boston Celtics first-round pick, 2022 Indiana Pacers first-round pick, 2024 Indiana Pacers first-round pick"

Why the Boston Celtics do it

To win now. Myles Turner is an upgrade over Daniel Theis, while Robert Covington offers a more clear and concise lineup fit for the Cs than Hayward ever did. Doug McDermott would be an added bonus for anyone’s bench but adds another needed shooter to the Celtics’ second unit.

Why the Toronto Raptors do it

Given the Raptors’ recent success nabbing marquee talent in a trade without assurances, he’d eventually resign, Toronto would be the perfect landing spot for Daniel Theis, a free agent next offseason.

In all seriousness, a coup that pairs Kyle Lowry and James Harden in the same backcourt while also adding an elite cutter in Hayward would give Canada a chance to win its second title in three seasons.

Why the Indiana Pacers do it

Indiana gets the player with arguably the highest ceiling in the entire deal in Pascal Siakam, who just had a breakout season as an NBA All-Star starter just one year after winning the Most Improved Player award in 2019-20. Danuel House would slide in seamlessly to McDermott’s spot on the bench.

Why the Houston Rockets do it

Any James Harden trade–whether the Houston Rockets want to acknowledge this yet or not–should be geared toward setting the team up in the future. While OG Anunoby, Norm Powell, Romeo Langford, and Goga Bitadze all have undefined ceilings, none are likely to develop into franchise cornerstones.

That’s where the draft picks come in. This team should be very bad before it is good again, and focusing on the future at the expense of wins now should be the goal.