The Boston Celtics gave up no first-round picks, addressed their need for a shooting big on the trade market, and watched the rest of the league open up several opportunities on the buyout market to snag a wing. To that last point, the Cs are seen as having the pick of the litter when it comes to free agents the next few weeks.
It’d be fair to call Boston a winner in those regards, but USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt believes the Celtics should be deemed as such for a different reason — that being because one of their possible playoff opponents imploded.
Zillgitt says that the Nets trading away Kevin Durant to the Suns and Kyrie Irving to the Mavericks is the reason why the Boston Celtics fall into the winners circle when it comes to the 2023 trade deadline:
"“The first-place Celtics didn’t do much at the deadline (added a stretch big in Mike Muscala), but they watched a potential playoff opponent (Brooklyn) trade its two best players, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, to teams in the West.”"
The Boston Celtics set to get better post-trade deadline
When a team merely makes additions and sees no major subtractions, that’s considered a win whether it’s the offseason or by the trade deadline. The Celtics did that, sending a way the not oft-used Justin Jackson to reel in a frontcourt shooter in a steal of a deal. Muscala has a team option the Cs are more than likely to exercise. With Grant Williams’ impending restricted free agency, Muscala could be a hedge for the fourth-year forward’s possible departure.
In addition to Muscala, the Cs could be adding Danny Green via free agency should the Rockets buy him out after his inclusion in the Eric Gordon multi-team trade. While Brooklyn’s deadline blowout helps make things easier in the east, the moves and possible future moves Boston made are what make them 2023 trade deadline winners.