Boston Celtics: 2 key takeaways from C’s recent trades

The Boston Celtics are compiling assets for another trade

Multiple reports say the Boston Celtics and Brad Stevens are far from satisfied with their offseason so far, indicating more moves are to be made before the Cs begin to focus on the upcoming 2021-22 season.

Since Boston is still handicapped from a financial perspective and is inkling towards letting Evan Fournier go since he wants longer-term security, Boston will be in the market for a Fournier replacement, and luckily for them, there are tons out there.

The first potential Fournier replacement is Joe Ingles, who has already been rumored to be on the trade block this offseason as the Utah Jazz look to bounce back from blowing a 2-0 lead in the second round to the LA Clippers.

Utah needs capable perimeter defenders to help Rudy Gobert sustain Utah’s defense in the playoffs, and the Boston Celtics just traded for two. A Richardson/Dunn swap for Ingles is mutually beneficial. On the one hand, the Jazz gets two high-level perimeter threats, and on the other, Boston gets a cheap, versatile two-way veteran that’s expiring.

The second potential Fournier replacement is Kyle Anderson, who has not only been rumored to be on the trade block this summer but has also been rumored to have received interest from the Boston Celtics.

The former San Antonio Spur is coming off the best season of his career and is contributing to the log jam in the Memphis Grizzlies’ win core. Anderson will turn 28 this season, and the Grizzlies are still in the middle of a rebuild, so he will likely be dealt for younger assets.

The Boston Celtics don’t necessarily have to trade Dunn or Richardson in this case since they have multiple TPEs that fit Anderson’s salary. Still, if Memphis wants either, Brad Stevens should not hesitate to pull the trigger.

Finally, the third Fournier replacement is Larry Nance Jr, whose value is still unknown to the public; after a report surfaced the Cavaliers saw him as a salary filler despite having the best season of his career. Cleveland just had an insane stroke of luck on draft night, coming away with the second-best prospect in the draft in Evan Mobley despite having the third overall pick.

With Jarrett Allen on the roster, the Cavs have no use for Nance and don’t want him to take Mobley’s touches, so that means he will be shopped this offseason. Although Nance does not play the same position as Fournier, he provides a similar set of skills.

He can shoot and pass like Fournier but can defend at a much higher level and function as a roll man. He can coexist next to Robert Williams and Al Horford, and he fits the Boston Celtics requirements financially.

Much like Anderson, Stevens could use a TPE on Nance, but if the Cavs want either Richardson or Dunn, they should be traded.