This past NBA trade deadline may have lacked the fireworks that many Boston Celtics fans believe were necessary in order to keep pace in what is becoming a shark tank of an Eastern Conference. Miami made all-in moves for Victor Oladipo and Nemanja Bjelica, and while the Cs did take on $17 million of Evan Fournier’s salary in a win-now move, the Daniel Theis for Luke Kornet/Moritz Wagner trade was by no means a sure thing of a deal.
The ongoing theme for the remainder of the season will one of pondering just how the Celtics are in a position to contend with the top dogs in the Eastern Conference. It’s all that matters. If this team isn’t prepared to go on another deep run, this roster can’t stay the same in the offseason.
When it comes to building a winner in the NBA, rapid-fire offseason moves have proven to be able to produce immediate winners. Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard are living proof that any franchise could make the right move and turn things around in a hurry.
Boston already has more talent than the Lakers and Raptors had before making that final deal for their missing pieces. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have already been within minutes of claiming an Eastern Conference crown, and that was without either of the franchise point guards the team has acquired since 2017 (Kemba Walker, Kyrie Irving).
Perhaps the need for the final piece could be filled by Bradley Beal, who has been linked to the Cs as well as the Heat, Pelicans, and Knicks, by Kevin O’Connor:
"There’s still a real chance Beal stays in Washington for years to come, but as the Wizards rack up losses, teams like the Heat are waiting to pounce. In addition to Miami, multiple league sources say the Celtics, Knicks, and Pelicans are among the teams with interest in pursuing a deal for Beal."
You know the drill. With Beal sharing a St. Louis bond with Tatum, and the Houdini having long believed he could excel in Beantown, today HH once again attempts to come up with deals to bring Beal to the Boston Celtics:
Why the Boston Celtics do it
This deal maintains the current Boston Celtics core but guts the team of the heart and soul of its second unit. Losing Marcus Smart creates a void that very few players in the league are even qualified to fill, and missing out on what Payton Pritchard could become could potentially haunt Celtics fans for years to come.
That said, this is the price to pay for superstars in the offseason. Acquiring Beal allows Danny Ainge to focus on replacing the departed Cs with cheaper options, and we know how much he loves finding gems on the international market.
Why the Washington Wizards do it
Bradley Beal has suffered through enough losing. The Wizards need to what is best for both him and the franchise and look to rebuild the team with draft picks and young talent. Pritchard has a high ceiling as one of the surprise rookies of the 2020 class, and Aaron Nesmith has shown the ability to convert 3-point attempts at a high rate in the SEC.
Combined with the two draft picks, Washington would be getting a good haul for Beal. Their next order of business would then be getting rid of Russell Westbrook as well.
Why the Boston Celtics do it
Once again, the endgame here is landing Beal (as the article of the title would have suggested), but this time the Cs keep Payton Pritchard and instead send out Kemba Walker. With Beal in tow, the need for Walker’s playmaking is lessened, and his $34 million could be swapped out for Beal’s identical cap figure.
Walker alone isn’t enough to get a deal done, but Marcus Smart and two future picks (along with what the Knicks give up) could do it.
Why the Washington Wizards do it
The Wizards should rebuild, so mining value for both Bradley Beal and Davis Bertans would be wise. Plenty of assets come back in this deal, including four future picks and a former DPOY in Smart. Even Kevin Knox could thrive in a new setting away from New York.
Why the New York Knicks do it
Knicks fans want to win now. It’s been a long enough period of prolonged suffering. Kemba Walker is the perfect point guard to bring this team to the playoffs for the duration of his prime, while Davis Bertans would immediately be the best shooter on the team.