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Why the Celtics Will Run the League for the Next 5 Years (and Beyond)


For Part 2 of this series (check out Part 1, the Grizzlies) I will be doing the Celtics. A like and flame would be appreciated as always and let me know your thoughts in the comments!


The Celtics have impressed so far in the playoffs as they swept the KD and Kyrie led Brooklyn Nets in the first round, a matchup that many had them losing. More impressive than that for me was their play in the second half of this season. After starting the year poorly going 16-19 they really turned it around in the second half and ended the season going 26-6 in their last 32 games. Since January 9th their offense has been first in the league and their defense has been 2nd best all season, despite Robert Williams being out for a significant amount of time. I think it has to be them or Miami coming out of the East and they could very well go all the way this year.

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They may be a great team now but for me what puts them in an even better situation for the future is the amount of assets they have. They have all of their firsts up to 2028 (the furthest into the future you can trade picks) but where the real value is is their players.

Trades

They have 2 guys with superstar value in Tatum and Brown. I highly doubt they’d trade either but if one of them was to be moved it would be JB, here’s what I think they could get in return for him: (https://fanspo.com/nba/s/general/trades/eeL-jyCWRQ5jyu/celtics-trade-1). This would leave them with an incredibly deep lineup of Brogdon-Smart-Tatum-Williams-Turner and a bench of Rubio (FA)-White-A.J. Griffin (5th pick)-Grant Williams-Theis.

Alternatively to this they could make a smaller deal with the Pacers to just acquire Turner like this: (https://fanspo.com/nba/s/general/trades/3mXNSEZS7hgQee/celtics-trade-2). This simply gets them an upgrade at the 5 who can still stretch the floor (which is necessary if you have Timelord in the lineup) and is an elite shot blocker. It also makes the lineup younger and able to contend without significantly altering it for at very least 4 years.

I think the Celtics need for a ‘true point guard’ is overstated with Smart, White, Brown and Tatum all having the ability to create for others but it would take their team to the next level if they could acquire one, I’m gonna propose an unrealistic and realistic option.

Unrealistic - (https://fanspo.com/nba/s/general/trades/TCAJ4bwhQE-BnY/celtics-trade-3): CP3 to Boston would be the ideal scenario but the only way I can see the point god going to Boston is if the Suns get beaten by the Pels in the first round and the (notoriously cheap) Suns owners want to save money to sign Ayton to a near max deal. If this somehow did go down this is what their lineup would look like: Paul-Smart-Brown-Tatum-Horford. In my opinion that’s the best in the league and would win a chip no doubt. It’s basically the current Suns lineup (Tatum as Booker) except better in every position except center.

Realistic - (https://fanspo.com/nba/s/general/trades/7bzXgFr560NH8e/celtics-trade-4): Jrue Holiday going to Boston is a move that I think both the Bucks and Celtics would make. Jrue and Smart in the backcourt would be elite defensively, probably the best in the league and I can see Milwaukee going younger if they get beaten in the 2nd round which is what I predict to happen. The C’s lineup after this trade would be: Holiday-Smart-Brown-Tatum-Williams. Williams at center this time but I think he has the strength to handle bigger guys and with other great defenders all around him they’ll definitely be alright on that end.


That’ll do it for this article, let me know what you think of it and thanks for reading!

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