NOTE: Dallas would also receive a 2027 2nd (via ATL) from Boston. (Fanspo hasn’t updated draft night moves).

I’m heartbroken as most Celtics fans to see Marcus Smart be traded to Memphis but Brad’s swinging for the fences.

With Porzingis we have our big of the future to stretch the floor and take Al’s place in the coming years.

At this point, all this team needs is more defensive stoppers at the guard position to match up with teams like Miami, Golden State, Phoenix, etc.

I don’t mind the idea of keeping Grant Williams to match up against Milwaukee (Giannis) but a sign-and-trade could be a valuable way to fill in the gaps in the backcourt off the bench.

Below I proposed two trades:

The Caruso Trade

• Boston gets: Alex Caruso

• Chicago gets: Maxi Kleber, a top-10 protected 2027 1st (via DAL), a 2024 2nd (via SA)

• Dallas gets: Grant Williams, 2027 2nd (via ATL)

The Anderson Trade

• Boston gets: Kyle Anderson

• Minnesota gets: Payton Pritchard, 2025 1st (via BOS)

Alex Caruso would be a prime replacement for Marcus Smart to bring the on-ball defense and tenacity that was lost. Caruso also is a decent scorer and shooter who could play well in smaller lineups with Brogdon or White on the court.

Kyle Anderson would be the ideal addition to this defense beyond Caruso as a player who can use his length in smaller lineups to help defend bigger players (the Giannis types of the NBA) while keeping athleticism on the court. He shoots the ball at a solid clip as well and comes from the Popovich school of basketball so he won’t make many mistakes with the ball either.

For the Mavericks, they‘d gain a young versatile defender (arguably the most versatile on the team) who still is growing offensively. Additionally, they’d receive Atlanta’s 2027 2nd as well and offload Maxi Kleber’s contract to Chicago. They’d have to send out a protected (top-10) in 2027 (but in theory if Atlanta’s pick is an early 2nd they’ll just be moving back 20~ spots that draft).

For the Bulls, they’re heading into a rebuild and can offload Caruso for a protected 1st and solid 2nd from San Antonio next year (while absorbing Kleber’s contract).

And for the Wolves, they get a point guard with a lot of upside and the potential to grow into a starter in Pritchard and a 1st in 2025 from Boston for only losing Anderson on the last year of his deal.

Celtics roster next year:

Starters:

• White

• Brown

• Tatum

• Porzingis

• Williams

Bench:

• Caruso

• Brogdon

• Hauser

• Anderson

• Horford

Utility:

• Davison

• Walsh

• Kornet