This Celtics trade makes sense
We are not strangers to Celtics trade rumors. It feels like we have spent a decade talking about the next big trade the Celtics are going to make because basically it’s been that long. Ever since Danny Ainge fleeced the Nets with the Pierce/ Garnett trade we have been in this cycle of trade talk. This year is no different.
The team is a .500 going all the way back to the bubble. It’s a big enough sample size to say this aint working. Ownership shook it up at the coaching and management levels. Brad Stevens shook up the roster to bring in some veterans in Richardson, Schroeder, and Horford. Still, no bueno. So here we are. Back at the trade deadline.
Allow me to first say this. The guy that absolutely needs to be traded is Marcus Smart. Smart has good a good job taking on his role as starting PG this year. His atrocious 4th quarter antics on the offensive side of the ball are down. His defense improved from a down year last year. He has chemistry with Rob Williams on the lob. All of this is true, but it’s not a talent issue with the Celtics. It’s a gel issue. Marcus Smart is like that bottle of L.A. Looks you have deep back in the bathroom cabinet that hasn’t been sniffed since 8th grade. It’s stale and old. Addition by subtraction is a clique that tends to be true more often than not. I believe that to be the case here. Shed the team of the last remaining “bridgy” player and fully embrace this as the “JAYS” franchise.
However, I doubt the Celtics do that. At least not at this deadline. A deal I do see getting done is one involving Dennis Schroder and/ or Al Horford. That’s why this proposal floating around makes a lot of sense to me.
The Kings are another team that has been in the trade rumor cyclone for years. They have a lot of young talent that has not put it all together. Their ownership group is dedicated to making the playoffs just to get bounced in the 1st round. I guess when you’re on a 15 year drought any post season revenue will do.
Buddy Hield is probably the biggest impact here, from both team’s perspective. The Celtics can’t shoot. Yet they love to shoot. They shoot 34% from 3. That’s 22nd in the NBA and they are 14th in attempts. This is down from top 5 in attempts over the past couple weeks as the team has put more focus on getting to the paint. The point is Buddy Hield is a bonafide sniper. He is a career 40% shooter from behind the arc averaging 16 points a game. He’s 6’ 4” 220 lbs averages 4.5 rebounds a game and can hold his own on the defensive end. These are the characteristic of guys that need to start surrounding Jayson and Jaylen. Shooters. Why would the Kings get rid of him? He’s 29 with a $23 million contract for 3 more years. Not exactly in the Kings window of success.
Marvin Bagley is a highly touted college player that has been buried in Sacramento. He’s still just 22 6’ 11” athletic Big who can, wait for it, shoot. A little. He’s got a decent mid range shot and a crafty game around the rim. His athleticism shows up defensively. There are more question marks here than with Hield, but it’s intriguing seeing him as reserve big or even pairing the athleticism of him and TimeLord. He feels like a classic change of scenery guy. My biggest hesitation? He’s a Dukie.
As for getting rid of Schroder and Horford, buh bye. Horford started out great, but his age is catching up with him. His biggest asset is as a defender against Embid and Giannis but that’s a sacrifice I’m willing make if it means getting younger and shooting. Schroder won’t be with the Celtics next year and his fit with this team just hasn’t worked. He’s a ball in hand player and there are just too many of those on this team. He may be a bit redundant for the Kings with Fox and Halliburton, but rumors are the Kings are looking to move one of those players too.
Both players have favorable contract situations for the Kings next year and they provide a veteran presence and skill set to a team looking to sneak into the playoffs.
This still leaves Smart as your starting PG and slides Payton Pritchard into the back up role so you’re still short there. The floor general will still be an area of need with this deal, but it fills a shooting need and you get younger at the PF spot moving on from Horford.
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