Boston Celtics fans are on too prolific a high to worry about changes that could be made in the offseason. The Cs have won four of their last five and eight of their last ten overall and are seeing their roster seriously gel following an active trade deadline several weeks ago.
This regular-season stretch could be soon forgotten if the team can’t get it done when it matters in the postseason. Just ask NY Knicks fans how they feel about last season’s 41-31 campaign amidst their current 3-16 stretch.
The current top half of the Eastern Conference is as loaded as it has been in the 21st century, with the Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Chicago Bulls, and Cleveland Cavaliers all owning better championship odds than the Boston Celtics right now.
It’s feasible the Cs fail this April or May. If they do, MassLive’s Brian Robb believes Boston could be open for business on the trade market.
It won’t be Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown that goes, though. Instead, it could be one of the defensive pillars of the starting five, arguably the team’s best recent first-round pick, or their shiny new sharpshooting addition to the second unit:
"As far as the Celtics assets, Horford is strictly salary-filler for a deal under his current deal. His salary would fully guarantee in the event he was traded so that’s a big expiring contract. The team has plenty of movable mid-sized contracts in Smart, Derrick White and Rob Williams (likely off limits) along with their cheaper rookie deals headed by Grant Williams. If this current core doesn’t show signs of being able to play against the East’s best in the postseason, any one on that list is expendable for the right upgrade."
Marcus Smart and Derrick White were previously tabbed as potential Bradley Beal trade pieces, but it’s looking increasingly likely he will remain in the nation’s capital. Grant Williams has increased his trade value exponentially this season and is still on a rookie deal. Robert Williams is now a legitimate top 10 center.
For a star, any of these pieces would be necessary in a deal. Short of a bona fide gamechanger, the Houdini wants to see all of them in green next season.