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Rockets Shift Into Win-Now Mode, Celtics Add a Top Draft Prospect, Raptors Bring in a Big With Star Potential

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Rockets

Rockets

+2 players ($34.8m) +1 pick,
Cap Impact + $6.4M
  • Jaylen Brown
    Jaylen Brown
    SG, 6' 6", 1.35 LEBRON
    Movement Shooter

    $30.7M

    1yr

    2
  • Payton Pritchard

    TO

    Payton Pritchard
    PG, 6' 1", -2.11 LEBRON
    Team Option | Stationary Shooter

    $4.0M

    1yr

    2
  • draft-pick-player

    2029 - Round 1

    Least Favorable Protected
    2

+ 0  Wins

-33.75  MPG

+1.02  Off.

-0.45  Def.

Celtics

Celtics

+3 players ($43.4m) +2 picks,
Cap Impact + $8.6M
  • O.G. Anunoby
    O.G. Anunoby
    SF, 6' 7", 0.23 LEBRON
    Stationary Shooter

    $18.6M

    2yrs

    28
  • Kevin Porter Jr.
    Kevin Porter Jr.
    SF, 6' 4", -1.42 LEBRON
    Shot Creator

    $18.2M

    4yrs

    11
  • Jae'Sean Tate
    Jae'Sean Tate
    SF, 6' 4", -1.03 LEBRON
    Athletic Finisher

    $6.5M

    2yrs

    11
  • draft-pick-player

    2023 - Round 1

    11
  • draft-pick-player

    2029 - Round 1

    More Favorable Protected
    11

+ 0  Wins

+41.60  MPG

-2.03  Off.

+0.57  Def.

Raptors

Raptors

+2 players ($17.8m) +1 pick,
Cap Impact - $19.6M
  • Jordan Clarkson

    PO

    Jordan Clarkson
    SG, 6' 4", -0.21 LEBRON
    Player Option | Primary Ball Handler

    $14.2M

    1yr

    29
  • Alperen Sengun

    TO

    Alperen Sengun
    C, 6' 9", 1.13 LEBRON
    Team Option | Post Scorer

    $3.5M

    2yrs

    11
  • draft-pick-player

    2026 - Round 1

    via BKN
    11

+ 0  Wins

-8.84  MPG

+2.49  Off.

-2.30  Def.

Jazz

Jazz

+1 player ($18.8m),
Cap Impact + $4.5M
  • Gary Trent Jr.

    PO

    Gary Trent Jr.
    SG, 6' 5", 0.5 LEBRON
    Player Option | Movement Shooter

    $18.7M

    1yr

    28

+ 0  Wins

+0.99  MPG

-1.48  Off.

+2.18  Def.

Rockets Land Jaylen Brown
Rockets Receive:

  • Jaylen Brown

  • Payton Pritchard

The Rockets shouldn’t trade for Jaylen Brown unless they’re signing James Harden. So, let’s assume that Harden is returning, and the Rockets’ pick lands outside of the top-2. Why not make a hard pivot into win-now mode? It’s not often that a team in the Rockets’ position has the opportunity to land a player like Harden. It ought to change their outlook. If they’re going to give an aging superstar a max contract, they might as well shift into win-now move. If Jalen Green can continue to develop, Jabari Smith Jr. can take a sophomore leap, and the Rockets can replace Sengun with a quality defensive big, this team could make a playoff push next season.

-

Rockets Offseason Moves

  • Draft Kel'el Ware (20th)

  • Pick Up Jalen Green's Team Option

  • Pick Up Usman Garuba's Team Option

  • Pick Up Josh Christopher's Team Option

  • Pick Up Kenyon Martin Jr.'s Team Option

  • Pick Up Payton Pritchard's Team Option

  • Sign James Harden for 2 years / $80,000,000

Houston Rockets Potential Rotation

PG James Harden

SG Jalen Green

SF Jaylen Brown

PF Jabari Smith

C Usman Garuba

-

PG Payton Pritchard

SG Josh Christopher

SF Kenyon Martin Jr.

PF Tari Eason

C Kel'el Ware

Celtics Receive:

  • OG Anunoby

  • Kevin Porter Jr.

  • Jae'Sean Tate

  • First-Round Pick

  • First-Round Pick Swap

This is not a win-now move. Anunoby is not as talented as Brown. On the other hand, he’s a significantly better defender. This deal doesn’t force the Celtics to tank. With that said, it does arm them with a prospect like Amen Thompson, Brandon Miller or Cam Whitmore. If they’re loyal to the franchise, that’s great. Unless the Celtics intend on trading them, of course.

-

Celtics Offseason Moves

  • Draft Amen Thompson (3rd)

  • Draft Emoni Bates (39th)

  • Pick Up Mike Muscala's Team Option

Boston Celtics Potential Rotation

PG Marcus Smart

SG Derrick White

SF OG Anunoby

PF Jayson Tatum

C Robert Williams III

-

PG Kevin Porter Jr.

SG Malcolm Brogdon

SF Jae'Sean Tate

PF Al Horford

C Mike Muscala

Raptors Receive:

  • Alperen Sengun

  • First-Round Pick

Some Raptors fans may not love this deal. They’ll be expecting more draft capital in exchange for Anunoby. Here’s the thing: what is the draft for? Isn’t the goal to land a player with star potential? If so, this is a good deal. Alperen Sengun is worth two or three first-round picks. This sophomore is already one of the best passing big men in the league. He’s one of the best low-block scorers as well. His playmaking could unlock what’s looked like a limp Raptors offense this season. Even if they retain Jakob Poeltl, this makes sense. The duo would give the Raptors two very different looks at the 5.

-

Raptors Offseason Moves

  • Draft Brice Sensabaugh (10th)

  • Pick Up Scottie Barnes's Team Option

  • Pick Up Precious Achiuwa's Team Option

  • Pick Up Malachi Flynn's Team Option

  • Trade Gary Trent Jr. for Jordan Clarkson

  • Re-sign Jakob Poeltl for 3 years / $42,000,000

  • Re-sign Will Barton for 1 year / Minimum

  • Sign Jordan Clarkson for 3 years / $51,000,000

  • Sign Coby White for 3 years / $21,000,000

Toronto Raptors Potential Rotation

PG Jordan Clarkson

SG Coby White

SF Scottie Barnes

PF Pascal Siakam

C Alperen Sengun

-

PG Malachi Flynn

SG Will Barton

SF Brice Sensabaugh

PF Chris Boucher

C Jakob Poeltl

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