Though there are only three days until the March 25th NBA trade deadline finally approaches, for Boston Celtics fans this short duration of time may wind up feeling like an actual eternity.
Currently boasting a mere .500 record of 21-21, this same team that made it to within two games of the NBA Finals in 2020 is barely holding onto a playoff spot in 2021, as they find themselves residing in the Eastern Conference’s sixth seed and a few loses could be the difference between this slot in the standings and the 11th seed.
Arguably the most disappointing team from this season thus far, as we approach the deadline, fans and media alike are curious to see what Danny Ainge and co. may opt to do in order to try and bolster this admittedly pedestrian squad and, in turn, bring them back to respectability.
Should they actually look to be in the trade market, there are a few players that we at the Houdini could realistically see them pursuing, with options including Harrison Barnes, George Hill, and Al Horford.
Recently, another name they’ve been rumored to have interest in inquiring about in Orlando Magic power forward Aaron Gordon has become a potentially realistic grab for the shamrocks, as the big has officially requested a trade.
The Boston Celtics could trade for Aaron Gordon by this year’s trade deadline
In the past, we’ve talked about how Gordon could be a suitable option for this struggling Boston Celtics squad, and now, with his reported desire to leave the land of Disney, it appears as though now could be the time where this idea can finally become a reality.
Of course, in any deal there must be assets given up in order to make things work. Now, the only question that remains is what would it take to convince Orlando to ship him to Massachusetts?
Today, we at the Houdini present to you 2 trades for the Cs to land the tantalizing four:
Boston Celtics trade No. 1) Danny Ainge opts to use his TPE
For months now, the conversation pertaining to the Boston Celtics has been about how they’ll opt to use their historically large Traded Player Exception that was acquired in the Gordon Hayward sign-and-trade this past offseason, which has a total value of $28.5 million.
Being that Aaron Gordon’s 2020-21 salary is $10 million less than this ($18.1 million), he could easily be absorbed into the team’s TPE.
Now, as we said earlier, assets, of course, have to be sent Orlando’s way in return for the 25-year-old baller and, based on ESPN writer Brian Windhorst’s recent breakdown of what the franchise may want in exchange, the Cs could easily be in the running for AG, should they be willing to part with a few of their future picks:
"“Aaron Gordon is the name I’m hearing most often as the top guy out there. A number of teams have contacted the Magic with offers and their ask is pretty high here. They’re looking for multiple first-round picks or a first-round pick and another young player.”"
In this league, of course draft capital is important, but when you’re a team like Boston that has multiple young All-Stars in tow and legitimate championship aspirations, such commodities should be viewed as expendable, especially if it can net you a good player at a position of great need.
On the season, Gordon is finding himself posting impressive all-around averages of 14.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and just shy of a block per game on 44 percent shooting from the floor and a career-high 40 percent shooting from deep.
Though still possessing the freakish athleticism and rim-rattling abilities that earned him a top-5 pick back in the 2014 NBA Draft, throughout his tenure in the association the big man has developed his game to become more of a complete player (something similar to that of Blake Griffin’s progressions into his prime) as he now has the capability of spacing the floor and playing the role of somewhat of a point-forward if need be (has averaged 5.4 assists along with a 10 assist triple-double and a few other close calls to such a stat line since Markelle Fultz went down for the season).
For two first-round picks and three seconds, it could very well be worth bringing on the services of the high-flying four and the remaining two years of his contract.
Boston Celtics trade No. 2) Cs bring on Gordon, Magic set up for their rebuild
In Windhorst’s breakdown of the situation between the Orlando Magic and Aaron Gordon, one of the reported wants in a potential return package is multiple draft picks. Another want from the front office, however, is a first-rounder and a ‘young player.’
Though the Boston Celtics don’t have one youthful commodity at their disposal that a team would be willing to part with a talent like Gordon for, they do have a couple of lottery selections from these past two drafts who are still under the age of 22.
In this proposed deal, we see the likes of Romeo Langford and Aaron Nesmith heading to the Sunshine State to hopefully serve as long-term assets in a potential franchise rebuild moving forward.
Despite finding himself logging minutes predominantly in the G-League during his rookie season, Langford showed glimpses of being a useful two-way wing, providing flashes of lockdown defensive skills with solid passing mechanics and a sound scoring touch during his short tenure on the varsity team in 2019-20.
During his one-and-done season at Indiana University back in 2018-19, Langford averaged16.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game on 45 percent shooting from the field, all while playing the majority of the year with a broken thumb that required offseason surgery.
As for Nesmith, Boston’s most recent lottery selection, he would go on to post unreal per-game averages during his final season with Vanderbilt, providing a stat line of 23 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and just under a block per game on 51 percent shooting from the field and a stellar 52 percent shooting from deep.
Revered as perhaps the best shooter from this past draft class, had it not been for his season-ending foot injury in January of 2020, he very well could have played himself into being a top-10 pick but, as a result, he dropped to 14th overall to the Boston Celtics.
Along with them, we see the expiring contracts of Daniel Theis and Jeff Teague heading to the Magic to help clear up their books this upcoming offseason, a 2023 first-rounder and three second-round picks.
And, of course, the Boston Celtics bring on Aaron Gordon to slot into their frontcourt either as their starting power forward (the preferred choice) or perhaps as even as a small-ball five. Either way, having the 25-year-old could very easily better their chances at winning in the now as well as for the future considering his still enough young-age.