Boston Celtics: These 2 Marcus Smart-Robert Williams trades return starting PG

Why the Boston Celtics do it

Tyrese Haliburton has a higher ceiling than any point guard the Cs can land in the 2021 NBA Draft given their lack of not only a lottery pick, but any first-round selection at all. He also might have the highest ceiling of any floor general the team can land without giving up Jaylen Brown.

What he undoubtedly possesses is the potential to break out in an expanded role. While he averaged 30 minutes per game and started 20, the presence of De’Aaron Fox prevents him from ever receiving the necessary usage to reach his full potential.

Boston gives him a chance to do so. Expecting him to at least produce at the level Terry Rozier did during the 2018 postseason isn’t a crazy ask of the second-year man.

Delon Wright adds a veteran guard to a roster loaded with recent draft picks in Smart’s absence. Damian Jones replaces the depth in the frontcourt lost by Robert Williams’ departure.

Why the Sacramento Kings do it

The Kings front office is always active, but they never make the moves necessary to bring the team to the postseason for the first time since the days of Peja Stojaković and Chris Webber.

Could two defensive-minded studs who reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2020 be the difference-maker?

I don’t know, but Sacramento has little to lose to find out.