3 players the Boston Celtics could trade Daniel Theis for this offseason

De’Andre Hunter

Honoring the exact criteria CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn was speaking to, De’Andre Hunter fills plenty of holes for the Boston Celtics while also giving them a potential core piece to grow alongside the ‘Jays’ in the years ahead.

Hunter is stuck behind Bogdan Bogdanovic and Kevin Huerter on the Atlanta Hawks, and is heading into the final year of his contract. Atlanta will already be paying Trae Young, John Collins, Clint Capela, and Huerter north of $15 million in 2023-24, and could be looking to renegotiate with Bogdanovic ahead of Hunter.

The Hawks aren’t necessarily hurting for a big man, with Capela and Onyeka Okongwu holding down the 5 and Collins capably manning the pivot in small-ball lineups. That said, the Cs could make it well worth their time by adding both a future first and second round pick to the proceedings.

Hunter may be worth the overpay to entice Atlanta to take Theis, and his switch-ability on the wing makes him a perfect addition should the Cs meet Golden State in the NBA Finals again in the sequel to the Warriors-Cavaliers series’ of the 2010s.

He’d be an A+ addition to the second unit along with a floor general MLE signing–Goran Dragic or Patty Mills if he declines his player option and opts for a reunion with Ime Udoka–if the starting five is preserved throughout the postseason.