This year more than any other year ever is not the season to finish in the #8 seed–the current postseason position the Boston Celtics find themselves in–in the NBA playoff picture. For the first time, there will be a play-in tournament that will involve two play-in rounds, and snagging what used to be the last golden ticket to the association’s second season is now just a trip to the gulag where four teams claw to the death for the chance to play their conference’s top dog.
With the Milwaukee Bucks on their schedule tonight (the last day before the trade deadline) and on Friday (the first-day post-trade deadline), the C’s current playoff position could worsen very quickly.
If the Cs plan on keeping this team together, this two-game stint in Milwaukee could be a season-defining one. And if this group is going to be relied upon to continue the winning tradition of the green and white, momentum is the only thing that will separate them from the pack down the stretch.
Talent-wise, the Boston Celtics are not in the same league as the Brooklyn Nets and are arguably behind the Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers as well. Their frontcourt does not have the ability to consistently stop James Harden, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons, Jrue Holiday nor (and especially) Giannis Antetokoumpo drives to the rim. The second unit is heavy on past-prime veterans (Jeff Teague) or youngsters who may as well be postseason question marks (Payton Pritchard, Aaron Nesmith).
Unfortunately, there isn’t enough to contend in 2021. But Hardwood Houdini is here to imagine a scenario (or two) where they are.
In doing so, the goal is to add the best talent available to surround Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum with.
The other starters are all goners in these deals.
Here are 2 “blow-it-up” trade deadline deals the Boston Celtics could make: