An offseason trade that’d create 2 significant roadblocks for Boston Celtics

Ben Stinar hinted at, but provide the framework for a nightmare swap for the Boston Celtics to witness between the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. The hypothetical deal would involve Kyrie Irving headed to the Milwaukee Bucks for either Jrue Holiday or Khris Middleton.

After witnessing the ‘Greek Freak’ almost bulldoze the Bucks past the Cs in the Eastern Conference semis, the idea of Giannis Antetokounmpo having a healthy Middleton these past few weeks is frightening for a future rematch’s sake. Give him Irving as well? *shutters*

Antetokounmpo was not stifled by the Celtics in the same fashion Kevin Durant was in Boston’s first-round sweep of Brooklyn. He often just needed another shot-creator to pass out of double teams to and make things happen. For the most part, he was passing out to guys lacking the ability to create plays off the dribble, like Pat Connaughton, Grayson Allen, and Wesley Matthews.

Giving him one of the game’s most creative shot-creators from anywhere on the floor (Kyrie Irving) may just be the pendulum swing needed next season to get the Bucks back on track. But let’s also talk about Brooklyn’s end of the deal for a second.

Durant showed in the 2021 postseason that he can just about do it on his own–with a little help from Jeff Green–but he needs to at least have the framework of a contender. The defensive identity of the Nets this past season was not one they can take into 2022-23 and still call themselves a contender.

So how do we kill two birds with one stone here, providing 2 greater roadblocks to be conquered in the future than this past postseason?

This Hardwood Houdini swap we hope we don’t see is one that’d provide 2 significant roadblocks for the Boston Celtics:

Why the Brooklyn Nets do it

During the Nets’ Boston Celtics first-round sweep, it was not once that Brooklyn could contain the Cs in a singular effort. The lowest point total Boston had in was in Game 2, when they went for 109.

Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez, and George Hill are all defensive-minded players who can spread the floor. They’d all make Kevin Durant’s life easier on the offensive end, just by extending the offense out behind the 3-point line. Ben Simmons would also have room to maneuver around if Brooklyn doesn’t cut bait with him too.

Lopez returning to the Nets a champion would be a nice story arch, and Holiday gives Durant the sole NYC spotlight on his team given his low-key nature.

Why the Milwaukee Bucks do it

Kyrie Irving is a serious gamble for the Bucks, but unless an extension is signed, he can be viewed as a win-now piece that gets them out of a max contract for Jrue Holiday that runs until he is 34 years old.

That gamble isn’t hard to picture panning out, with Irving and Khris Middleton (and new role players Seth Curry and Patty Mills) feasting on plenty of open looks created by Giannis Antetokounmpo.