Boston Celtics: 2 potential Hayward-Hornets sign-and-trades

Why the Boston Celtics do it

If Danny Ainge can somehow extract a trade exception from Gordon Hayward’s deal, filling that with win-now veterans to bolster the team’s depth wouldn’t be a bad way to push the team closer to contention.

Trevor Ariza is a steady hand and former NBA Champion that has been shuffled around several times this offseason, moving from Portland to Houston in the Robert Covington trade before being sent to Detroit as part of the Christian Wood sign-and-trade. Finally, he was sent to OKC from Detroit as part of a 3-team deal this past Saturday. Boston would be a good home for him to settle in 2020-21.

George Hill is another veteran hand who has experience making deep playoff runs as a member of the Paul George-era Indiana Pacers, the LeBron James-era Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Milwaukee Bucks of the past few years. He’d bring valuable postseason experience to this young roster.

Why the Charlotte Hornets do it

To complete the Gordon Hayward sign-and-trade of course!

Why the Oklahoma City Thunder do it

For OKC, absorbing several second-round picks is fair compensation for the team taking on the final year of Nic Batum’s disastrous deal. Semi Ojeleye is a nice throw-in, but his involvement in the deal has more to do with thee Cs clearing up a roster spot than anything.