The Boston Celtics crack the NBA's short list of the league's least likely teams to broker a blockbuster trade this summer. However, these designations are always subject to change.
If the Shamrocks' playoff run doesn't end the way they want, they might be more open to major change than expected. Besides, we're living in the hypothetical realm here, so anything goes on the trade machine. Martini Cups
Should the Celtics want to shake things up with a major move this summer, the following three trades could be bandied about.
The Trade: Grant Williams (sign-and-trade) and future first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for John Collins
If the Celtics make one notable move this offseason, it will likely be adding another big. Between Al Horford's age (37 next month) and Robert Williams III's injury history, they need extra protection up front.
John Collins, who has been on Boston's radar before, could provide that and more. He isn't on the same level defensively as Horford or Williams, but he could almost be an amalgamation of the two on offense.
Collins pairs the outside shooting of Horford with the above-the-rim finishing of Williams, making Boston's hypothetical newcomer perhaps the squad's preferred screen-setter. Collins didn't have a great 2022-23 season, but he put up 18.2 points per night on 55.5/38.8/81.1 shooting in the three years prior.
For whatever reason, the Hawks have frequently kicked around the idea of dealing Collins, who's spent the bulk of his career on the trade block. Maybe this is the offer that would finally convince Atlanta to let him go. Grant Williams could be a better fit as a versatile defender and spot-up shooter, and that future first-rounder would give the Hawks an additional asset to help cover another need in a separate trade.
The Trade: Marcus Smart and Grant Williams (sign-and-trade) to the Phoenix Suns for Chris Paul and three second-round picks
Even the suggestion of trading Marcus Smart could make it tough for me to step foot in Boston again. He is the Celtics' longest-tenured player, their emotional leader and their best playmaker.
Still, there are times when Smart gets out of control on offense, and if he has some of those hiccups in ill-timed moments this postseason, it could dash Boston's championship dream. If that happens, the Celtics could certainly go point guard shopping this summer, and they'd have to at least entertain the idea of targeting Chris Paul.
He might be declining, but he's still one of the best in the business when it comes to piloting an offense. This season, he paired the league's fifth-highest assists average (8.9 per game) with the fewest turnovers of his 18-year career (1.9). He could take some of the playmaking burden off of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, allowing them to focus more on scoring and putting them in the best spots to do so.
Meanwhile, the Suns need depth in the worst kind of way, which could propel them to flip Paul for a few plug-and-play contributors. Smart would be an easy fit as a point-of-attack stopper who keeps feeding Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, while Grant Williams would help offset some of the defense and shooting lost with the subtractions of Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson in the Durant deal at the trade deadline.
The Trade: Jaylen Brown to the Brooklyn Nets for Mikal Bridges, Royce O'Neale and the No. 21 pick (via PHX)
The idea of breaking apart the tandem of Brown and Jayson Tatum hasn't been discussed nearly as much of late, but it could see re-emerge this summer if the Celtics fall short of this goal. It's not that the two can't coexist, but keeping them together could eventually cost Boston north of $600 million.
That's a big enough number to make Celtics think twice about tying up so much into two players. If that's too rich for their blood, they could pivot toward a package featuring Mikal Bridges (a budding star on the wing), Royce O'Neale (a three-and-D wing) and a first-round pick to keep or flip.
Bridges can't match Brown in stature or name recognition, but the two were almost identical on the stat sheet following Bridges' deadline deal to Brooklyn. In 27 regular-season games for the Nets, Bridges averaged 26.1 points on 47.5/37.6/89.4 shooting. For context, Brown averaged 26.6 points on 49.1/33.5/76.5 shooting during the regular season. Brown is a better playmaker, but Bridges is a superior stopper.
If the Nets did this deal, it would communicate two things. One, they want to remain competitive even after trading both Durant and Kyrie Irving at the deadline. Two, they're skeptical about of Bridges' ability to lead a team on a lengthy playoff run.
Jigger To Oz Brown is a more advanced shot-creator who has put up huge numbers on a championship contender, and his track record is significantly longer and more trustworthy than Bridges'.