Trades at this point in this offseason are not impossible. If Danny Ainge wants to acquire a player with less injury-risk than Romeo Langford, here are 3 trades the Boston Celtics can make.
Boston Celtics fans are likely just as nervous now as they were before opening night over a year ago. After seeing the team looked overmatched against a Philadelphia 76ers team that seems to have corrected its biggest issues–aka a lack of shooting and spacing in a cluttered, clunky lineup–perhaps Danny Ainge had the same second thoughts as all of us.
Clearly he didn’t think last year’s team had enough, as he dealt three different players (all of who the Houdini tried to trade constantly) and brought on several veterans to fill out the rotation.
Right now, those veterans (particularly Jeff Teague) could play a vital role in the team’s opening portion of the season. Of course, they will be without Kemba Walker to begin the campaign, and Tristan Thompson figures to miss opening night at the very least.
All in all, things could be better. The youth (Payton Pritchard, Aaron Nesmith) showed out in their preseason opener, but Semi Ojeleye shouldn’t be collecting 17 minutes of game time…even in the regular season.
Unfortunately, the man who should be playing instead is always injured.
Romeo, Romeo, where art though Romeo Langford?
Today, he’ll be shipped off to three different cities since he can’t seem to be able to suit up for the home team in this one:
Why the Boston Celtics do it
The problems Langford suffers from that hold him back are not the same as that of Frank Ntilikina. The “French Prince” has had to be shafted by three (and now four) different head coaches after being selected with the eighth pick of the 2017 NBA Draft.
Ntilikina could be a nice combo guard off the bench to take Langford’s minutes at the 2 and also soak up any time that would go to the underwhelming Carsen Edwards.
Why the New York Knicks do it
Who knows what Langford could be if he was actually healthy? It’s not a question the Cs need to answer if they decide a second-round pick is worth parting with to upgrade the second-unit backcourt.
Why the Boston Celtics do it
George Hill would be an unbelievable get for Danny Ainge and co. His experience across the league serving a multitude of different roles equips him to be a utility man for the Boston Celtics. He could be plugged in and fill any role asked of him in the backcourt, whether it be as the primary bench ball-handler or as a 2-guard.
His most appealing attributes are his time spent competing for conference championships year in and year out with the Indiana Pacers and then finally winning one with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018.
Isaiah Roby is an intriguing lanky forward with jack-of-all-trades qualities about his game–he dropped nine points, grabbed six boards, and dished out three dimes in his last preseason contest–that could slot in alongside Aaron Nesmith, Payton Pritchard, and Robert Williams to form one of the most formidable young bench mobs in the association.
Why the Oklahoma City Thunder do it
The Thunder have very few big men on their roster, and most tend to be in that power forward/tweener role. Daniel Theis is another of those, but his propensity not to step on any toes on offense while capably defending his position well makes him a perfect rebuilding asset. At worst, they can likely flip him at the trade deadline before he is due for an extension next offseason.
As I’ve said before, Langford is the perfect guy to join OKC at this stage of their rebuild. They can afford any risk, and Langford’s injury history makes him one.
Why the Boston Celtics do it
Chandler Hutchison has proven to have a quite dynamic offensive game for someone who struggles to shoot the long-ball. His sub-30 percent clip from the 3-point line has not held him back nearly as much as logic would suggest. Theoretically, he is a jump shot away from being an all-around threat from the floor.
He also grabs four rebounds per game from the wing spot in 18 minutes per game. Hutchison could be one of the great diamonds in the rough, and it feels like he could be wasting away on a Bulls team that hasn’t resembled competent since Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo were in uniform (yup that was a thing).
Ryan Arcidiacono is another example of a player who hasn’t gotten his due to the locale he finds himself playing basketball games in. Few know he was a 40 percent 3-point shooter in almost two and a half attempts per game last year.
Perhaps the Cs can unearth two gems in one fell swoop.
Why the Chicago Bulls do it
Langford, an Illinois kid, would make for a great “coming home” story. Perhaps being closer to home could be the boost he needs to elevate his game whenever he can get time on the floor instead of getting time with the team’s medical staff.
Carsen Edwards makes sense as a backup to Coby White considering the similarities in their games and stature. Both are undersized but are strong for their position.