If 2020-21 was viewed as a true let-down campaign for the likes of the Boston Celtics, then I wonder what the first 26 games of 2021-22 would be classified as?
Lackluster?
Putrid?
No matter which term one believes best describes the season thus far for the Boston Celtics, it’s all but a guarantee that it won’t be a positive one.
With their level of play being more up and down than Kingda Ka, Boston currently finds itself sporting a sub-.500 record of 13-14 after having lost three straight during their recent west coast trip.
As this squad continues to struggle, many are under the impression that in order to get this team to where they wish to be come year’s end (i.e. in the playoff contender conversation) Brad Stevens and co. must strongly consider making some moves in an effort to better support franchise cornerstones, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
We at the Houdini certainly agree with this logic and, with this, have even gone about and concocted numerous trades and lists of trade targets over the past several weeks that we believe they should pursue between now and February’s deadline.
When it comes to trade rumblings, a team with such a storied past like the Boston Celtics is always viewed as a potential landing spot for stars who are reported to be on the block.
Already this season we’ve seen the organization linked to reportedly disgruntled top-billed talents such as Damian Lillard & Ben Simmons and, while the former has made it abundantly clear that he does not wish to leave Portland, the latter is still seemingly hell-bent on making his way out of Philadelphia, with recent rumors suggesting that talks involving the All-Star have been ‘gathering momentum.’
Now, while a ton of fans have already voiced their own thoughts about the idea of Boston acquiring Simmons, with many believing he’d be a great fit with the team, ultimately it is more likely than not that Philadelphia’s asking price will be a bit too pricey for Stevens to comply with — in other words, the C’s front office almost certainly will not wish to part with Jaylen Brown, and we don’t blame them.
That said, while it may not be all that feasible to believe that the shamrocks will end up with the point guard on their roster this season, we still think the team should look to include themselves in a trade involving him heading out of Philadelphia.
Of course, what we mean is the Boston Celtics should look to serve as a third party in a Ben Simmons blockbuster so that they can potentially bring on some complementary pieces of their own whilst making the money work for the other organizations.
In the past, we’ve discussed the concept of seeing the estranged star being sent to the Sacramento Kings while Philadelphia got a new franchise point guard and the Cs got some quality rotational pieces.
Today, we discuss the idea of Boston taking part in a 3-team deal where Simmons heads to the Dallas Mavericks.
The proposed trade package we’ve come up with reads as follows:
For the Dallas Mavericks, it makes quite a bit of sense why they’d consider doing such a blockbuster move, for they desperately need ball handlers/ playmakers outside of Luka Doncic to help get the offense rolling and Simmons would unequivocally provide that as he finds himself averaging 7.7 assists per game (10.3 per 100 possessions) for his career and boasts a 34.5 assist percentage.
On top of this, the perennial All-Defensive selection and Defensive Player of the Year candidate would immediately help boost the team’s overall production on the less glamorous side of the ball, as this aspect of the game is, and has been significantly holding them back from their true potential, seeing their defensive rating consistently plummet over the past several seasons and now, in 2021-22, they sit at 17th in this category.
Though his shooting shortcomings may be cause for concern to some, with guys like Tim Hardaway Jr., Dwight Powell, Maxi Kleber, and, obviously, Doncic all gunning for clean looks, the peremeter scoring punch seems to be well covered, thus allowing Simmons to predominently stay down in the paint when off-ball to use his physicality to get his points.
As for Philadelphia, the biggest name coming aboard would be Kristaps Porzingis, a towering 7-3 power forward who can join Joel Embiid in the frontcourt to create a truly menacing wall on defense as well as a high potential one-two punch on offense that can feast down in the paint just as easily as they can step out and knock down the open trey.
Still just 26 with career averages of 18.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks on 36 percent shooting from deep, the one-time All-Star joining Embiid and Tobias Harris would make for one of the most unique and potentially ferocious two-way frontcourt trios in the game today.
Alongside Porzingis, however, the Sixers also see point guard, Jalen Brunson, making his way to the City of Brotherly Love to fill the void at the one left behind by Simmons.
Every season since being in the league, the former second-round pick has only managed to improve and now, in year four, is finding himself posting strong per-game averages of 14.3 points, 4.8 assists, and four rebounds on 49 percent shooting from the field whilst predominantly coming off the pine.
In Philly, he’d finally be able to get his shot at a full-time starting gig where, when he’s been given an opportunity to play in the first-five lineup, he’s only managed to impress — this season, in particular, Brunson boasts 21.2 points, 6.8 assists, and 6.2 rebounds on 48 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent shooting from deep during his time in a starting role.
Obviously a more willing scorer than Simmons while also still being keen on looking to make plays for others, bringing on Jalen Brunson would allow for the 76ers to run a scheme with a more traditional point guard which, frankly, could be a nice change of pace for the ball club.
And, for the Boston Celtics, they use their $6.8 million Kemba Walker TPE on two-way veteran wing, Dorian Finney-Smith, a favorite of my co-expert, Andrew Hughes.
A sound role player who has the skill-set that allows him to play the three and the size/ strength to have him log minutes at the four, the sixth-year veteran could prove to be a great backup option at either forward positions where he could fit right in with his tough-nosed defensive prowess and help out on the offensive side of the ball with his solid scoring abilities.
Over the last three seasons, the 28-year-old holds per-game averages of 9.6 points and 5.4 rebounds on 46 percent shooting from the floor and 38 percent shooting from deep and, this year, his level of play has only managed to carry over, posting 9.1 points and 4.6 rebounds a night on 37 percent shooting from deep.
Possessing an intriguing combination of grit, grind, and toughness while also being able to make his shots at a consistent rate, Dorian Finney-Smith has been and will continue to be a player we believe the Boston Celtics should strongly consider pursuing in a trade.
Here, we see them doing exactly that all while expediting the end of the Ben Simmons dilemma in Philly and giving him a new home in Dallas.