Boston Celtics: 3 trades to make with the Toronto Raptors

Tonight, the Boston Celtics play their last game before the All-Star break. This year, All-Star weekend will look drastically different, with all events being held on Sunday for precautionary reasons related to COVID-19.

Of course, this pandemic-stricken season has thrown what we know on its head. Take tonight’s opponent, the Raptors, for example.

Toronto’s professional basketball team has not played a single game in its home building, the Scotiabank Arena. Instead, the North has had to watch its squad play on television as the Raps play their home games at the Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay instead.

While Tampa Bay has become Titletown in 2021 with the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl victory–this after flirting with a World Series crown in 2020 with the Rays–the Raptors don’t seem to be in a position to follow the championship trend.

Instead, the Toronto/Tampa has lost three of its last four games, including a 24-point shellacking at the hands of the Detroit Pistons last night. Currently sitting in the #8 seed, it’s possible this shell of the 2019 NBA Championship team becomes a seller at the trade deadline.

With FanSided’s sister site Raptors Rapture pushing for their team to make a deal–and taking a shot at Danny Ainge in the process–the Houdini has decided to explore three potential deals with tonight’s opponent:

Why the Boston Celtics do it

Tristan Thompson hasn’t been a winning piece for the Boston Celtics, who have been on a treadmill of mediocrity all season with him in the starting lineup. That many are calling for Robert Williams to be the starter is a testament to Thompson’s inability to grab the reins of the center position.

Aron Baynes is averaging 10 points and 4.5 rebounds in his last four games, and he has had success playing in Brad Stevens’ system before.

Stanley Johnson is a bigger and higher upside wing than Javonte Green.

Why the Toronto Raptors do it

Toronto has not been able to get the most out of Baynes or Johnson, so taking on Canadian-born Tristan Thompson could provide them with a big body that can grab rebounds in the absence of Pascal Siakam making a meaningful step in that facet of the game.