The Boston Celtics have a tough road ahead of them if they wish to find themselves once again embarking on a deep postseason run.
With the fact that there is now a trio of star-studded big-3s in the Eastern Conference in the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Brooklyn Nets, the shamrocks will likely want to bolster their roster a bit more in an effort to combat the firepower these aforementioned teams possess.
Sure the Cs have their own combination of stars in Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kemba Walker (albeit, he has looked like a shell of himself to start the season), the Swiss Army man in Marcus Smart, and one of the best coaches in Brad Stevens, but the team could still use for some added talent to better fill out the rotation.
One way this can be accomplished is via the trading route, where Danny Ainge and co. have the luxury of a $28.5 million Traded Player Exception at their disposal.
There are quite a few trade targets the Boston Celtics should consider pursuing.
With this, the Boston Celtics have the opportunity to bring on numerous individuals that could find themselves becoming available between now and the league’s March 25th trade deadline.
Recently, Bleacher Report went about listing 3 players each team in the NBA should consider trading for, and, for the Celtics, they listed a few intriguing talents.
Because of this, it sparked the desire for us at the Houdini to push out yet another installment of our favorite series we call “Pass or Pursue”, where we discuss whether or not the Celtics should sit out on talks for a specific player or if they should actively try to acquire them.
So, without further adieu, let’s get started:
Boston Celtics trade target No. 1) Kyle Anderson
Recently, reports came out that the Boston Celtics will be looking to bring on “shooters with size” between now and the trade deadline, and many believe that bulking up the team’s wing depth could wind up being prioritized.
On paper, Kyle Anderson fills both of these wants.
Listed at 6-9 with a 7-2 wingspan, the seventh-year forward finds himself posting career highs all across the board in 2020-21. Through 21 games played, Anderson is averaging 13 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists on 45 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent shooting from deep.
With his size and skillset, Anderson has the capability of playing either wing positions and his defensive prowess is an added bonus.
That said, the problem we have with the idea of bringing him on is the fact that there is too small of a sample size for this level of success.
This is the first time in his career that he’s scoring in double digits, is grabbing over six boards, and is just the second time in which he’s shooting at above a 35 percent clip from deep.
All in all, if you can land him without using the team’s TPE we say go for it, as there are better options out there they can use their available $28.5 million in cap flexibility on.
Verdict: Pursue, so long as TPE is not involved
Boston Celtics trade target No. 2) Julius Randle
The Julius Randle connection with the Boston Celtics has been circulating for the past month or so and, in B/R’s article, we find it popping up once again.
Through 28 games the 26-year-old is finding himself having a career season, boasting averages of 22.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 5.8 assists on 47 percent shooting from the floor and 39 percent shooting from deep.
With the C’s obvious need for an upgrade at the four, many believe a guy like Randle would be a great addition to the rotation and writer Greg Swartz finds himself pounding this proverbial drum:
"Randle brings an offensive upgrade at power forward over Daniel Theis to the Celtics’ starting lineup and is also enjoying his best season with 22.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists and a 38.2 percent mark from three."
No doubt would the seventh year big bring an added talent boost to the Celtics if acquired. That said, as we cited in a previous article discussing the possibility of a Randle deal, the way he plays may not mesh so well with the likes of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
The ideal target for a power forward would be a defensive-minded/ floor-spacing big that doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective.
Outside of floor-spacing — which, frankly, is a new development in his career — Randle does not fit the mold for such a player. With this in mind, it might be best to stay away from the point forward.
Verdict: Pass
Boston Celtics trade target No. 3) Nikola Vucevic
Last but certainly not least, we find Nikola Vucevic making his way onto B/R’s trade targets list.
Since the departure of Al Horford two offseason ago, the biggest weak spot within the C’s rotation has been at the pivot. Now, to start the 2020-21 season, though they have the likes of Daniel Theis and Tristan Thompson finding time at the five, it’s evident that, should Boston wish to truly contend for banner No. 18 come year’s end, they’ll want to look to bolster the position.
Without a doubt, Nikola Vucevic would be the type of acquisition that would put this team all in for a championship push. With his level of play this season coupled with his TPE eligible contract, Swartz believes the All-Star big man would be a great fit in Boston’s lineup:
"Assuming the Celtics aren’t ready to hit the panic button on Kemba Walker (although maybe they should be), Boston’s focus should be on the frontcourt. Vucevic would be an upgrade over Tristan Thompson, giving the Celtics a center who can shoot threes and create for others. He’s having a career year (23.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 41.7 percent shooting from three) for a sinking Magic team, and Vucevic’s $26 million salary fits into Boston’s massive trade exception from the Gordon Hayward sign-and-trade."
Listing in a 7-0, 260 pounds, he would easily be the most physically dominant big the franchise has had in quite some time and would be an ideal combatant to the likes of Bam Adebayo, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo once the postseason rolls around.