Boston Celtics: These 2 Marcus Smart-Tristan Thompson trades return starting PG
After the new Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens dealt away the first fallen domino in swapping out Kemba Walker (and a few draft incentives) for Al Horford and Moses Brown, the focus around these parts immediately shifted to what could be the next shoe to drop.
These Cs are not magically fixed with the move, and actually have more roster questions than they have answers. The frontcourt is jam-packed with bodies, and most of them have overlapping skill sets.
The backcourt is also short on lead guards. As of right now, Payton Pritchard is the lone traditional point guard, but even he is far from a pass-first point guard. That will need to change if the team has any hopes of capitalizing on the new space afforded to the lineup with Horford (presumably) back in the starting center spot.
There is an ace in the hole on the free-agent market in the form of former Brad Stevens favorite Isaiah Thomas. Not only would we here at HH like to see the former MVP candidate return to the franchise he achieved his greatest feats with, but the fanbase at large could use a feel-good moment after a feel-bad postseason performance against the recently-eliminated Brooklyn Nets.
That said, Thomas is more of a second unit fit for whoever he lands with. The starting job needs a point guard with a higher ceiling to match up with the elite floor generals across the Association.
HH has decided to package the two greatest assets in the Boston Celtics locker-room–the expiring contracts of Marcus Smart and Tristan Thompson–to reel in a new starting point guard: