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

Why the Boston Celtics do it

If the Cs gamble correctly on giving up yet another first-round draft pick–plus perhaps their brightest young prospect in Aaron Nesmith– in addition to the Marcus Smart-Robert Williams package to land Markelle Fultz and Mo Bamba, the Cs could be locked into a potential championship core for many years.

While Fultz is coming off of an ACL tear that follows a problematic first few seasons in the league and Bamba has yet to prove capable of handling anything more than a reserve role, there is still plenty of potential for the pair to prosper elsewhere.

Fultz was the #1 overall pick in 2017 and was a consensus choice over Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Jaren Jackson Jr. at the time. If he could ever regain his form from his college hoops days at the University of Washington, he can ascend to the top of the NBA’s point guard ladder.

As for Bamba, he may just need to find a team with less talent at the 5. Nikola Vucevic and now Wendell Carter Jr. sat/sit in front of him on the depth chart, and his skillset is geared for a team with more offensive ability on the wing than Orlando has had in his short career thus far.

Why the Orlando Magic do it

The Magic have pivoted to building around Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter Jr. this past season. Couple them with the returning Jonathan Isaac, and Fultz and Bamba’s star potential wanes every second more they spend in Orlando.

Marcus Smart would be the perfect new option at the #2, while Robert Williams becomes a potentially cheaper option than Bamba as the primary backup big. Meanwhile, Aaron Nesmith and the 2023 first round pick give the Magic a reason to justify giving up the best player in the deal in Fultz.