Why the Boston Celtics do it
Adding another top lottery pick to the rotation is a good way to overcome the fact that the Cs have some major salaries on the books moving forward. Brad Stevens acquired the Al Horford cap figure Danny Ainge was unwilling to dole out to the former–and now current–Cs center while Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are in the early years of their super-max extensions.
This deal adds two. The first is, obviously, the 2021 lottery pick the team will be inheriting from the Dubs via the Minnesota Timberwolves. As it turns out, the D’Angelo Russell swap didn’t deliver dividends for the T-Wolves, but it did deliver extra picks to the Warriors to flip for veterans that fit the timeline of the Splash Brothers and Draymond Green.
James Wiseman is another former lottery pick who doesn’t have much NBA mileage under his belt. He could be the team’s long-term answer at center and the potential third-wheel to the Jays if he can reach his potential.
Why the Golden State Warriors do it
Marcus Smart has been a Warriors target for years now, and finally landing him to serve the role Andre Iguodala used to is a better use of his talents than playing out of position as the starting point guard for the Cs.
Robert Williams would simply slot into Wiseman’s spot in Golden State’s frontcourt.