For what it’s worth, I’m very high on this Celtics team and roster. I believe the pieces are going to fit together beautifully, and Brad Stevens wants to keep this group together and try to build something sustainable.
However, it’s impossible to rule out the possibility that the ceiling simply isn’t that high, and they’ll need to make another big splash move to get back to title contention. If things don’t gel as well as I expect, they may have to look at moving Paul George’s massive contract or packaging Derrick White’s deal for another star.
As disappointing as that would be, Stevens is clearly no stranger to making big, controversial trades and doing whatever he thinks is best for the organization. If that means hunting for a new sidekick for Jayson Tatum, then I have no doubt that’s exactly what Brad will do.
Karl-Anthony Towns could be the next 2nd apron casualty
We’ve thrown around names like Steph Curry and Nikola Jokic, but at this point, those seem like pipe dreams, unlikely to leave the only franchises they’ve ever known. But suddenly, a new, unlikely name has emerged as someone who could become available much sooner than anyone could have expected: Karl-Anthony Towns.
The Knicks are just months away from winning their first championship in ages, and the vibes in New York have been immaculate. But the second apron comes for everyone, and sure enough, before the season has even started, there’s a cloud hanging over the team as they are far apart on a new extension for KAT.
The Celtics have already poached one of their big men, stealing Mitchell Robinson in free agency, and if Towns hits the trade market, as Shams Charania indicated could happen as soon as the February deadline, Boston would be a dream fit.
Would the Knicks actually send their All-NBA center to Boston?
He would give them a combination of post defense and rebounding with some switchability and, perhaps most appealing, one of the best three-point shots for a big man in NBA history. He’d be a match made in heaven for Joe Mazzulla’s system, and weakening the Knicks in the process would be the icing on the cake.
Obviously, there’s the difficult matter of getting New York to deal him to Boston, but James Dolan has made it clear he’s not going into the second apron, and if they feel forced to deal him, they may take whatever offer they can get. We just saw this play out with the Celtics and Jaylen Brown, as they shockingly dealt him to the rival 76ers. Would the Knicks sending KAT to Boston really be more stunning?
It’s still a long shot, and the odds are still on Towns and the Knicks coming to an agreement, but we’ve seen things spiral in a hurry and deals get done quickly in the NBA recently. If Towns isn’t willing to take a huge hometown discount (which it doesn’t appear that he is), the Knicks are going to have to make some very difficult decisions, and their star big man could be the next casualty.
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