Boston Celtics: 3 deals to make after the James Harden-Nets trade

Why the Boston Celtics do it

Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum and Bradley Beal share a nearly unbreakable bond, growing up together in St. Louis. That has allowed Beal to see just how great Tatum has become…and how great he could still be:

"Bradley Beal has seen Jayson Tatum’s entire trajectory, not just as an NBA player. He has known Tatum since he was a young kid and has watched him grow into a man and an NBA star. Both players are from St. Louis, MO, and went to Chaminade High School where their jerseys have since been retired and now hang in the rafters. They have remained good friends, often training together in the offseason."

That connection means his name will always be relevant in a trade conversation relating to the Cs. It helps that the Washington Wizards are terrible this season at 3-8, and that the Brooklyn Nets just forced every team to look in the mirror and honestly assess whether or not they are contenders.

Washington isn’t the slightest bit of one, meaning a Beal trade is far from impossible.

Why the Washington Wizards do it

In order for Washington to begin their rebuild the right way, they will need to sell off their veteran pieces. Nobody is going to want to touch Russell Westbrook after seeing the Wizards freefall down the standings, so a Beal trade that lands an All-Star in Walker, two potential building blocks in Robert Williams and Romeo Langford, and multiple first-round picks is the best course of action for D.C.’s professional hoops club.