Another year, another missed opportunity for the Celtics. The C’s have been closer to the top of the Eastern Conference than they have ever been. The fact that they still have been unable to add a bonafide star to their lineup is especially frustrating to fans. Ever since Brad Stevens made them into contenders, Boston has been on the brink of making a massive trade. So why haven’t they?
There were several big targets for Boston this year. The Celtics were reportedly targeting Jimmy Butler and Paul George, with hints at a big man like Andre Drummond. Reportedly the Pacers were looking for too much for George. They wanted 3 of 4 players (Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Avery Bradley, or Jae Crowder) and the 2017 Brooklyn pick. While George is one of the best players in the league, it is understandable that they wouldn’t want to trade three of their best rotation guys. Was there a way they could have finagled a different deal? Maybe offering only two players and both Brooklyn picks could have changed the trade. Indiana seemed to highly covet their player.
As for Jimmy Butler, it seemed like the Celtics had a much better chance of getting him. One of the most promising signs was hearing the other trades that Chicago had made. After dumping Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott who are solid rotation players, it seemed that the Bulls were ramping up for a rebuild. This could have opened up the door for another elite scorer to come to Beantown. Once again, nothing came of it.
Danny Ainge is sticking with his current roster. The biggest challenge for the Celtics is the fact that many teams around them have bulked up their rosters while the C’s have stayed the same. Teams like Toronto and Washington have both added players. Boston has put a lot of hope into the future Brooklyn picks, and this summer should have a much larger free agent market. Let’s hope the Celtics haven’t waited too long for that.
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