Boston Celtics: 3 Cs unlikely to be on roster in 2021-22

The reputation of the Boston Celtics as a contender around the league is quickly fading.

As the losses continue to pile up at an equal rate as wins do–the Cs recently dropped a 115-109 contest to the New Orleans Pelicans without Jaylen Brown on Monday–other Eastern Conference contenders are making moves in the trade market and the buyout market.

This isn’t to say that the Celtics aren’t also making (or trying to make) moves as well. It’s just that many don’t see Danny Ainge’s dealings to be moving the needle far enough in the right direction.

This is a problem. The roster is growing very expensive over the next few years, with Jayson Tatum’s $195 million extension kicking in next season. Marcus Smart is due for an extension after next season, and Bogdan Bogdanovic’s $72 million commitment could the high end for what Smart is expecting.

The Cs could be fast approaching panic-button territory, and league executives expect the team to make a move in the offseason:

"Rival executives agree that for Boston to reemerge as a top-tier team in the NBA, it’ll have to find a blockbuster deal akin to the kind of roster upheaval Celtics fans haven’t seen since the Kevin Garnett trade from Minnesota in 2007. “I don’t think they’ll do something that dramatic,” said an Eastern Conference executive. “But I would be very surprised if Danny doesn’t make a big, bold move this summer.”"

For the Boston Celtics to make a major move, someone has to go. But who?

Hardwood Houdini thinks it could be these three Cs:

Boston Celtics SG/SF Evan Fournier

The minute the possibility of another TPE being created out of an Evan Fournier sign-and-trade was brought up by Brian Robb of Masslive, HH realized the potential short-term nature of Fournier’s stay in Boston.

Essentially, if this low-risk gamble works out, Ainge has the means to re-sign him. But if the Cs still get bounced before the Eastern Conference finals, Fournier is the perfect means to trying again next season with the trade exception.