The Boston Celtics goal this season is to win the NBA Championship. Full stop.
Right now, they have an amazing starting five that makes them a top team in the NBA. But from a matchup perspective, they are vulnerable when facing a few teams; an obvious one springing to mind is the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets.
Boston will have a very hard time matching up with Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets in a potential NBA Finals matchup because of the potential frontcourt disparity between the two-time MVP and the C’s frontcourt.
Boston Celtics must use Grant Williams TPE option to land Isaiah Stewart
To counter the Jokic problem, the Celtics need to use their Grant Willams trade exception to acquire the services of Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart.
Stewart’s toughness and size make him unafraid of any challenges. Sporting a big body, Stewart would not bow down to the greatness of the Joker, and that is what the Boston Celtics will need in a seven-game series.
The C’s lack of size needs to be addressed. Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford are excellent bigs and win the talent matchup against most opponents, but they need a player who can come and provide toughness when they need a break.
If the Pistons’ early season competitiveness fades, Stewart will be a prime target for teams around the Association similarly looking to solve their Jokic problem. The Celtics must not be afraid to engage Detroit’s front office for a deal on any of their bigs, but Stewart comes closest to matching the Serbian superstar head-on.
Knowing Brad Stevens and his proclivity to be aggressive in the trade market, expecting them to be afraid is a fool’s errand.
Stewart is a potential needle-mover in the making who can be made on a franchise that may just need him to reach the mountaintop.