While the start of the season has been a difficult one for the Boston Celtics, they are heading into the All-Star break with some positive momentum. Boston is riding a four-game winning streak, pushing their record to 19-17 on the season.
Kemba Walker is beginning to find his form, which is helping take some pressure off of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum offensively. While that is a nice development, the team could use an upgrade around that core if they want to truly become contenders again in the Eastern Conference.
Boston would love to acquire a player such as Nikola Vucevic from the Orlando Magic. He would solve so many of their problems in the front-court and give the team another bonafide All-Star to round out their core. They could also try swinging a trade for Zach LaVine, another All-Star with the Chicago Bulls.
However, rival executives don’t expect that to happen. Instead, they expect the Celtics to make a smaller move to help round out their roster. Tom Haberstroh of TrueHoop delivered the scoop.
“For the Celtics, a player like Sacramento reserve big man Nemanja Bjelica might be a better fit,” TrueHoop’s Tom Haberstroh wrote. “The 6-foot-10 Serbian would fit in nicely as a dynamic big man who can shoot and move the ball. Is he Nikola Vucevic? No, but he would be far less costly. Rival executives don’t expect Boston president of basketball operations Danny Ainge to make a big swing at the deadline. Said one Eastern Conference GM: ‘That’s not Danny’s style.’ The wiser bet is that Boston makes a minor move up front now that Kemba Walker is rounding into form.”
Haberstroh is correct in his assessment of Ainge. The Celtics’ general manager has taken the blame for the team’s shortcomings this season and has said Boston has been close on some trades. Close seems to always be the outcome when it comes to swinging big trades, as Boston was always in the running when star players became available via trade, but were never able to seal the deal.
As long as Walker, Tatum, and Brown are getting it done offensively, the Celtics can be competitive in the Eastern Conference. That is a strong trio, but they will need some help if they are to truly have a chance at knocking off the Philadelphia 76ers or Brooklyn Nets come playoff time.
