As unfortunate as it is to say, the Celtics are not good. They are not going to win a championship with their roster the way it is. For the last few years, they have been great on paper when it comes to their starting five, but lacked bench depth. This year is no different. With each team getting better, or attempting to do so, just so they can catch up to the Lakers, it is only natural for us to change some personnel. In this league, you either adapt, or you die. If we don’t make changes soon, we may very well die for this season. To avoid that, I have come up with three trades that the Celtics need to make if they want to truly compete for a championship this year. Let’s jump into it.
Trade #1
Hawks Receive: Tristan Thompson, Jeff Teague, 2021 1st round pick
Celtics Receive: Clint Capela
One of the biggest issues the Celtics have had this season is their lack of a defined starting Center. Brad Stevens has done a lot of experimenting so far with our big men, mostly playing Daniel Theis and Tristan Thompson at the same time. Why? Beats me. Still don’t know. What I do know is that it has not worked once. Not even a little bit. If I’m being brutally honest, Jeff Teague has stunk, and the rookie we drafted has out played him at every turn. On top of that Thompson has not lived up to the expectations that myself, and a lot of other Celtics fans had in mind when we signed him. They’ve been so bad, that is why I’m willing to add in that 1st round pick. The Hawks get future draft capital, and the Celtics get a Center that will fit in the flow of the offense, and won’t take shots away from Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Trade #2
Kings Receive: Romeo Langford, 2024 1st round pick
Celtics Receive: Harrison Barnes
With this trade, we would be using that Gordon Hayward Trade Exception. Harrison Barnes is averaging 15.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game for the Kings, and with this we would solidify our bench wing player. I could only imagine what Barnes would be able to do against bench players, rather than what he’s done in over 35 minutes per game as a starter for the Kings. Barnes would be back in a winning organization, and have a real opportunity for playoff success, unlike what he’s had in Sacramento. The Celtics lose a former lottery pick, sure. However, we haven’t really seen what Langford is actually capable of, due to his inability to be healthy. I’m perfectly willing to trade for a known commodity, rather than keep the unknown. I’m also willing to add multiple 2nd round picks to get this done, so the Kings can have future draft capital.
Trade #3
Knicks Receive: Kemba Walker, 2026 1st round pick
Celtics Receive: Derrick Rose, Julius Randle
It hurts for me to say, but I think Kemba’s time in Boston is over. He’s had some truly awful games since his return from injury, and even in his decent point production games, he hasn’t been very efficient. I think that Walker has done all he could to help our organization, so I think that we should at least send him to a place that he has had a desire to play. Walker nearly signed with the Knicks before signing with the Celtics, due to his desire to go home. I threw in a first rounder to sweeten the deal, but I’m not sure that it would be needed. We would have to wait until Derrick Rose would be able to be traded again, due to his recent trade to the Knicks. but I’m willing to wait for that moment. With this trade, the Knicks get back a legitimate first option scorer, and someone who can teach the younger guards on that roster like Immanuel Quickley. In return, we’re able to get a true backup point guard, along with a bench power forward who has been playing out of his mind this season. Much like the Harrison Barnes scenario, I’d love to see what kind of numbers Randle would be able to put up against bench players.
With all of these trades, out rotation would look something like this:
PG: Peyton Pritchard
SG: Marcus Smart
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Clint Capela
Bench: Derrick Rose, Julius Randle, Harrison Barnes, Grant Williams, Robert Williams
We would finally fix our bench depth issues, we would finally have a good big man rotation for the first time in more than a decade, and we would have defined roles with scoring options. Starting a rookie at point guard may be controversial to some, but I believe that Pritchard has earned that right, especially after the proposed departure of Kemba Walker. Once Marcus Smart comes back, we would have a defense first back court, two emerging stars in the Jays, and a rim-running, shot-blocking, rebounding Center. On the bench we’d have three true scorers, that can get their own bucket when needed, and get others involved as well. As I stated before, if we don’t make moves, we will be left in the dust. Here’s to hoping that “Trader Danny” lives up to his moniker again.
Round The Game 
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