Missing on $207 million star will always ‘make skin crawl’ for Boston Celtics
Beale Street Bears’ Mark Nilon, formerly of Hardwood Houdini, believes that the Boston Celtics’ decision to trade the draft pick who turned out to be Desmond Bane will always “make the skin crawl” of fans and members of the front office.
“Missing out (Bane’s) production would make almost any team in the league upset, especially one like the Celtics that actively worked to rid themselves of it before ever getting a real taste,” Nilon prefaced before saying, “For both fans and members of the franchise, the ‘what could have been’ mentality when it comes to Bane is one that will undoubtedly make the skin crawl.”
Nilon was responding to Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley, who claimed the Cs have “surely been kicking themselves ever since” the Bane trade.
“Bane, the No. 30 pick, would have been the Celtics’ third player added to their first-round haul at the 2020 draft after previously selecting Aaron Nesmith (No. 14) and Payton Pritchard (No. 26),” Buckley prefaced before saying, “He also would have nudged them closer to the luxury tax.
“So, the Shamrocks flipped him for a pair of future second-round picks, and they’ve surely been kicking themselves ever since.”
Desmond Bane might’ve become another Aaron Nesmith with the Boston Celtics
Missing Bane is a mighty what-if, but the Celtics have won enough the past three seasons to justify the move. Even if Bane had stuck around, he’d likely be coming off the bench right now. Perhaps he would’ve become another Aaron Nesmith; who has blossomed only after leaving Boston after being stuck behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
All in all, things are likely going to end up working out for Boston. The same can’t be said about the Memphis Grizzlies, though.
Even with Ja Morant out, the Grizzlies are paying Bane as a No. 1 option. Their league-worst first week of the season is not a proper payoff for the $207 million he’s now owed over the next five years through 2028-29.
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