Boston Celtics comically swindled in Nets proposal from analyst

The Boston Celtics would be comically swindled if the front office was ever slacking on the job and somehow accepted an offer concocted by NBA Analysis Network that would send Robert Williams III, a 2025 first-round draft pick, and the right to swap picks in 2029 to the Nets for Nic Claxton and Patty Mills.

Boston upgrading the center position behind Al Horford is far from an absurd idea, but marginally upgrading to a player who is less efficient from the field and grabs fewer rebounds per-36 minutes is. Putting those two players’ value at about even — although Williams’ inability to suit up for full seasons certainly does put him below Claxton –, the rest of the deal, a draft pick and pick swap for Mills, makes this highway robbery. Boston does that to Brooklyn, not vice versa.

Williams could be part of a bigger package for a true difference-maker since Horford is now the full-time starter and Derrick White is more of a priority in Joe Mazzulla’s offense, but this proposal just doesn’t make sense for a team looking to make the finishing touches on a contender while maintaining flexibility — just as Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens has done during his two years leading the front office.

The Boston Celtics could consider moving core members without Banner 18 in 2023

Stevens is likely getting to a point in his tenure where he realizes that the title window is closing more than it is opening. Jaylen Brown demanding a trade doesn’t seem all that far off if a No. 1 option is what he truly desires. Winning is the only reason someone with such ambitions would stick around.

If the Boston Celtics don’t win in 2023, it’s not unreasonable to think the team could think about moving players around Brown and Jayson Tatum to do its best to bring a championship run out of the two franchise stars. Non-franchise stars like Williams and Marcus Smart, who have both seen less of a role with the marquee additions of White and Malcolm Brogdon over the last year, have the salaries to bring back immediate difference-makers.

Don’t be surprised if their names, which were previously met with serious resistance from Celtics fans, pop up this summer if Boston bows out of the postseason early.