Boston Celtics: Why a Lonzo Ball trade is off the table

One of the biggest suggestions in the realm of Boston Celtics fans has quickly become the potential acquisition of Lonzo Ball. The New Orleans Pelicans seemingly are open to trading him, and the Celtics need a point guard.

This would create a big-three of Ball, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum. Many believe this trio could lead the C’s into the future.

Other names that have been suggested as Boston Celtics additions include John Collins and even Duncan Robinson. Both are free agents that would be available via sign-and-trade.

However, that’s where the issue lies. Sign-and-trades.

Ball, Collins, and Robinson would all have to be acquired via a sign-and-trade with their previous team. Unfortunately for the Celtics, this type of move is nearly impossible to get done.

Keith Smith of Spotrac and Yahoo Sports explained the situation on the CelticsPod podcast recently with Adam Taylor.

The Celtics are currently around $14 million under the hard cap, according to Smith. This gives them a decent amount of wiggle room to work.

However, this does not take into consideration the fact that Evan Fournier needs to be re-signed. Based on his current market value, re-signing him would take up the rest of this wiggle room.

If Boston were to make a sign-and-trade, the team would become hard-capped. It would press them right up against the tax apron meaning there could be no more moves.

So, if the C’s did decide to do a sign-and-trade for Ball, it would eliminate all financial flexibility. This means they would have little to no room to sign anyone else.

Stevens stressed the importance of having financial flexibility in his press conference following the Kemba Walker trade. In fact, he said it was one of the main reasons the C’s did trade Walker.

By completing a sign-and-trade, Boston would be losing all of that flexibility that they gained by trading Walker. It defeats the purpose, to a degree.

By steering clear of a sign-and-trade, the Celtics would keep the wiggle room they gained by dealing Walker. This allows for the potential of more trades and moves throughout the offseason.

So, while a trio of Ball, Brown, and Tatum may seem ideal, it simply isn’t financially realistic. Sorry to disappoint, Celtics fans.