Based on the way the playoffs ended and Brad Stevens’ end-of-year comments, it feels like the biggest question facing the Celtics is how they are going to generate better shots. Most of the focus has been on fantasizing about big fireworks and blockbuster trades to add superstars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, and others.
The best solution for Boston likely isn’t that drastic. The team is very good, and they shouldn’t overreact to a few disastrous games against the 76ers. They’ve got a young roster with a lot of great contracts, two superstars: one who should be close to fully healthy after an Achilles tear and the other who just had the best season of his career, a First-Team All-Defense guard, and last year’s Sixth Man of the Year.
They aren’t as far away as it may seem at the moment. But that’s not to say they don’t need to improve. They need another ballhandler. They need someone who can handle the ball, create and knock down shots, and make plays for others. If that player is also a plus defender, that would be even better.
So, a player the Celtics should be in on has not generated a ton of trade buzz, largely because they are a restricted free agent this summer, and that’s Peyton Watson of the Nuggets.
Nuggets have misplayed their hand with Watson's free agency
The Nuggets failed to extend Watson last summer, and now they’re in quite a bind. They’d love to bring Watson back as he broke out this season, stepping up when guys were out with injuries, and proving he can run some offense, give you 20 points a game while attacking the basket, getting downhill, and creating for himself and others.
But the Nuggets have spent poorly, and now they risk losing P-Wat to free agency. There have been rumors about them trying to dump salary to keep Watson, perhaps even sending a player like Cameron Johnson to Boston. But the Celtics should have bigger ambitions and shoot for Watson.
Celtics could use TPE to work out sign-and-trade for Watson
They don’t have the cap space to steal him away from Denver, but they could agree to a long-term contract worth around $20 million a year and take Watson into their trade exception via Anfernee Simons. Denver would save money and could work out a sign-and-trade, perhaps getting back a pick or two and a useful player like Sam Hauser, Luka Garza, Jordan Walsh, or others, a much better solution than losing him for nothing.
The Celtics would gain a 6’8”, 23-year-old defensive menace who’s ready for a bigger role and could easily slot in as another creator for the Celtics with a solid injection of youth. He failed to get consistent minutes from Michael Malone and has constantly been an afterthought in Denver behind their machine-like offense based around Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon.
But with guys frequently out of the lineup, he proved he was capable of doing a lot more, averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 41% from three. With this deal, Watson could get the contract he wants, stay on a contending team, and get a bigger role while playing for one of the best organizations in the league. There’s a lot of untapped potential here, and given the Nuggets’ issues, this could be a great opportunity for Brad Stevens to sneak in and steal a budding young star before he blows up.
Add us as a preferred source on Google