Boston Celtics: These 2 Tristan Thompson-Aaron Nesmith trades return starting PG

Why the Boston Celtics do it

If you haven’t heard, Kevin Porter Jr. now sees himself as a point guard. The USC product had plenty of character concerns before the Cleveland Cavaliers dealt him to the Houston Rockets, but he has since thrived as one of the few legitimate NBA players the Rockets gave regular minutes to this season.

While I’ve been critical of the Cs bringing on Porter Jr. in the past, things have changed in Beantown. Ime Udoka is now the lead man in the locker-room, and HH trusts him to rein in any supposed “character problems” his players may have.

Porter Jr. can play, and he would be a high-ceiling option who could elevate his game higher as the primary playmaker on the Cs.

Avery Bradley is a high-quality throw-in who is better off anywhere else but Houston given their trajectory.

Why the Houston Rockets do it

While Rockets fans will tell you the team has no intentions of building around Kevin Porter Jr., the team would likely jump at the chance to add another first round pick to further their rebuild before they keep a player they acquired for just a second rounder.

Aaron Nesmith and the pick provide building blocks, while Tristan Thompson represents an expiring contract the team could use at the trade deadline to extract value out of a contender desperate for size.