Trader Brad Stevens already made his first move before the trade deadline this season. The Boston Celtics acquired two injured players in PJ Dozier and Bol Bol in exchange for Juancho Hernangomez in a three-team trade. This move was made to keep the team under the luxury tax cap.
Although a minor move, this may entail a series of trades for Trader Brad. Boston is struggling this season, as they are just floating around a .500 record. The team has its two stars in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Stevens is confident that both Brown and Tatum are the main pieces to a championship title. The bench and role players around the two all-stars are in question. Boston has movable pieces, players that have big contracts, and young players that could use a different scenario to break out.
Finding Their Point Guard of the Future
The team is in desperate need of a point guard. Dennis Schroder has been good for Boston, especially for what he signed for this offseason. Schroder is not the type of point guard the team needs. The guard is a tremendous scorer and brings life to an offense that can stagnate at any given time. Boston needs a floor general, a player that can control the offense through passing, and one that would not become a liability on defense.
De’Aaron Fox has been rumored to be on the trading block in Sacramento. Fox came into the league the same year as Tatum, as he was selected fifth overall in 2017. Fox is a tremendous player, a well-rounded athletic point guard. The 24-year-old guard is a player who loves to attack the rim and shoot mid-range jump shots. Although he is not a great three-point shooter, Fox is capable of making a few three’s a game. The guard would fit alongside both Brown and Tatum as he would be able to draw defenders in as he drives into the paint. Creating an open shot from three for either of the two players when Fox kicks the ball out.
Fox is an underrated playmaker, as he came into the league as a ball-dominant player. Fox has shown that he can make the right pass when needed, and he is willing to give up his shot for a better one. He would still be able to have control of the offense but would have to give up the ball a bit more when playing with Brown and Tatum.
Stevens’ Number One Target
There are other players from Sacramento that are eye candy for the Boston Celtics. Small Forward Harrison Barnes has been in discussion for the past year. Barnes has been targeted by not only Brad Stevens but former President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. The forward would be a great filler of Gordon Hayward‘s position. Since Hayward’s departure, Boston has struggled to find that third wing that did a bit of everything. Josh Richardson has been great for Boston but is not enough to fill in the missing role.
Barnes is both offensively and defensively sound. He will not need over 12 shots a game and does not need to have the ball in his hand to be efficient and effective on the court. He provides shooting and finishing, along with aggressive rebounding habits. Something Boston has been struggling with since the departure of Kevin Garnett, nearly a decade ago.
Finding Their Star Bench Player
There is plenty of talent in Sacramento that the team is willing to part ways with. Together as a whole, the team will not work together but apart these players are phenomenal. Buddy Hield is the last player that Boston should target from this team. Hield is struggling to find a consistent role with the Kings. The shooting guard is an offensive powerhouse when given consistent shots. A career 40 percent three-point shooter, and a player who can heat up quickly to average 15 points per game. This addition would give Boston a steady shooter from three. As Hield would provide the much-needed scoring off the bench.
Yes, Hield would be a bench option for the Celtics. The starting core does not need another player that wants the ball. However, Ime Udoka is in desperate need of a great shooter for the bench. Hield would be able to get his 12 shots a game and dominate the ball with the second unit. With Hield on the roster, it would give rest to Brown and Tatum offensively. Udoka could rely upon Hield during resting minutes and not have to have players such as Grant Williams and Payton Pritchard become the main scoring options for the second unit.
Hield has a large contract, as he is signed for 22 million a year. Sacramento for Hield would be interested in Marcus Smart, as the contracts are close to one another. For Boston, although the guard is valuable to us, Smart’s value to the league is minimal. Most franchises do not value Smart more than a protected first-round pick. Boston in this case would have to throw in a first-round pick or one of our young guys. [Grant] Williams would be a great addition to the trade, and if Sacramento still does not value Marvin Bagley they can add him to the trade in exchange for a protected future first-rounder.
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