It seems inevitable that some big-name NBA stars are going to be on the move this summer. We’ve already seen rumors about Giannis, KD, Kawhi, and others, and the Celtics have a real chance, and perhaps even a real urgency, to get in the mix. But all too often, we’ve seen that these superstar, blockbuster deals don’t work out so well.
The Celtics could split up their core, gut some of their depth, throw around some assets, and bring another superstar to Boston. But another, better path would be to feign interest, drive up prices, and then swoop in to pick up the casualties.
This is exactly what they did last time the Bucks were making a blockbuster trade. Milwaukee blew up its championship roster to bring Damian Lillard to Portland. That didn’t work out at all for the Bucks, and the most impactful player in the deal ended up being Jrue Holiday, who was sent to Portland. That’s when the Celtics struck. And that’s what they should do again.
Whatever team trades a haul to acquire Giannis, KD, Kawhi, Anthony Davis, or any other superstar is going to have to give up a lot of value and salary just to make a deal work. But teams like the Bucks and Clippers may not be looking to hold onto those kinds of players. The Celtics can be extremely opportunistic here and wait to see how things unfold before taking advantage of the carnage.
Celtics should look to be third-team in blockbuster deal
There are plenty of teams in the mix for a star, and that means there are going to be a lot of complementary guys and role players looking for a new fit. If the Heat go all-in, could the Celtics steal Davion Mitchell? If the Hawks go for it, maybe Nickeil Alexander-Walker has to be in the deal. The Cavs could end up discarding Jarrett Allen in a big deal.
If the Rockets make a win-now move, we could see guys like Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason shake free. If the Blazers go star-hunting, they may have to part with a guy like Toumani Camara.
These are just a few random examples, and the beauty of it is that we can’t even imagine what names may be on the move in the next month or so. But the teams that are ready to pounce are the ones that get ahead in the NBA. Brad Stevens has shown an ability to do it, and he should be on the prowl again.
There is going to be a lot of movement, and while everyone is distracted by that, the Celtics can target some of the secondary guys in these deals, likely getting good value from teams that have no real need for these players. Maybe there won’t be another Jrue Holiday type of opportunity out there, but there just might, and the Cs are primed to catch lightning in a bottle again.