Here Are 3 Hypothetical Trades Celtics Could Consider Before NBA Trade Deadline

Here Are 3 Hypothetical Trades Celtics Could Consider Before NBA Trade Deadline


NESN by Alexandra Francisco

The NBA trade deadline is Thursday, and the Boston Celtics have been involved in no shortage of the rumors being thrown around league circles.

The team hasn’t made a mid-season move in six years, but this season feels like things will be different given the serious issues Boston currently has. Not to mention, the fact that Danny Ainge himself has admitted the roster he assembled simply doesn’t have what it takes to content for a title.

So the Celtics president of basketball operations has his eye out for reinforcements, it seems. And he has a very specific type of player in mind who brings shooting, size and can help immensely on defense.

All that to say, there are a few players that Boston could be considering acquiring — whether that’s to win now or to have for future seasons. We’ve already discussed the rumors about bringing in Aaron Gordon or John Collins ad nauseam recently.

Let’s throw around some different names:

Malcolm Brogdon
If the Indiana Pacers are entertaining offers for Brogdon, the Celtics should be inquiring about the point guard. And with that phone call, shooting their shot at getting Kemba Walker off the books by being willing to send any assets Indiana wants in exchange for taking on that contract (be it draft pick or end of the bench player.) Brogdon seems like he’d be a comfortable fit immediately and fits the archetype Ainge is looking for: He’s 6-foot-5 with shooting, facilitating, great handle and best of all: defense. A ball-handling tandem of him and Marcus Smart would be a fun change of pace from the days of hiding the point guard on that side of the ball.

Lauri Markkanen
Don’t let the fact that he’s dealt with some injuries in his young career — or the fact that you maybe haven’t heard of him — stop you from overlooking the Finnish 7-footer. The Chicago Bulls reportedly are listening to suiters for Markkanen, who is experiencing a bounce-back year though a right shoulder sprain kept him out most of February. Your prototypical modern big, he is an extremely efficient scorer who shoots 40% from deep on 7.2 attempts per game, is an excellent pick-and-pop player and loves the top of the key. Not to mention, he’s only 23-years-old, so his timeline lines up with Jaylen Brown’s and Jayson Tatum’s nicely.

George Hill
Another flashy name here with George Hill. Just kidding. But, he fills a need and you can probably make it happen with some draft capital, because the Oklahoma City Thunder LOVE draft picks. He could be absorbed into the Celtics’ traded player exception if they break it up or salary matched pretty easily with him owed just under $9.6 million next year. Whatever, he’s 34 years old, but a savvy veteran with a valuable skill set. Hill is a good secondary facilitator who served as a key role player for the Milwaukee Bucks last year, shooting a wildly efficient 51% from the field and 46% from 3.

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Report: Lauri Markkanen on trade block; should C's have interest?


NBC SPORTS BOSTON BY DARREN HARTWELL


Might the Boston Celtics' quest for "shooting with size" lead Danny Ainge to call up the Chicago Bulls?M

As rumors swirl about the Celtics' interest in Orlando Magic veterans Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier and Atlanta Hawks teammates John Collins and Bogdan Bogdanovic, The Athletic's Shams Charania reports there's a new name on the trade block: Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen.

Several teams have "expressed interest" in Markkanen ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline, and Chicago "is listening to potential suitors," Charania reported Tuesday.

The No. 7 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Markkanen is a 7-footer with range who's averaging 17.7 points per game this season while shooting a career-high 48.3% from the floor and 39.6% from 3-point land.

Injuries have kept Markkanen from reaching his full potential -- he's missed 65 games over the last two-plus seasons -- but the 23-year-old has plenty of upside if he can stay on the floor.

Markkanen would be an intriguing target for the Celtics as a floor-spacing big man who can open driving lanes for All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. He's also making just $6.7 million on the final year of his rookie contract and easily would fit under Boston's traded player exception while allowing the team to make additional moves with its $28.5 million allotment.

The Bulls should command a hefty return for Markkanen, however. He'll also hit restricted free agency this offseason, which means teams can sign him to an offer sheet that the Celtics would have to match to keep him in Boston.

Whether the C's pursue a trade for "The Finnisher" likely depends on Chicago's asking price. But he's an intriguing name to watch as Thursday's deadline nears.

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