The Boston Celtics didn’t acquire Mike Muscala from the Thunder for two second round picks because Oklahoma City wanted to tank — this according to Thunderous Intentions’ Rylan Stiles, who said as much in a piece exploring OKC’s future following the deal.
Oklahoma City is in the thick of the postseason race and could make a run for the No. 10 seed and an NBA Play-in game. The teams right with them in the standings didn’t get better. Portland made several moves but they parted with the best players in each deal. Utah was a full-on seller at the deadline. The Lakers are the biggest threat to keep OKC out of the playoffs.
Stiles isn’t confident the Thunder can end up in the Play-in, but there was no interest from Stiles to call the Muscala trade a tanking move for OKC considering their acquisition of Dario Saric from the Suns:
"“For all the pearl-clutching OKC fans did about this being a tanking move, they replaced Muscala’s production hours later. While It still might not be enough to make the postseason given how wild the Western Conference is, this was not a taking move. Instead, it was an asset accumulation move that worked for all parties involved.”"
Mike Muscala considered an absolute steal for the Boston Celtics
For the Boston Celtics to simply add a shooting big for assets of little consequence speaks well to Brad Stevens’ relationship-building and trade savvy. Without giving up a first-round pick, Stevens cured half of the team’s weaknesses.
Muscala, as Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey points out, is in the top 75 in box plus/minus, sporting averages of 18.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.7 3-pointers made, and 1.1 block per 75 possessions and a 39.7% conversion rate from beyond the arc. Acquiring the 31-year-old, as Bailey pointed out, was an absolute steal for Boston.
Now he just needs to find a wing on the buyout market and his work will be complete. Look out for Danny Green as a potential free agent option if the Rockets buy him out.