Following an Eastern Conference Finals appearance despite missing key players, expectations for the Boston Celtics this season were high. Unfortunately, the reintegration of Kyrie Irving and Gordan Hayward into the Celtics lineup alongside young players hasn’t lived up to those expectations.
So far this season, Boston has gone 25-18, earning them the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. While still playoff bound, this is still a drop from claiming the second seed last year.
Not only have they seen their footing slip on paper, the team’s chemistry is showing signs of fragility. Scenarios such as the shoving incident between Marcus Morris and Jaylen Brown or Kyrie Irving airing out frustrations with younger players on the team lend to the idea that things may not be alright within the Boston locker room.
As the Feb. 7 trade deadline nears, it may be in the best interest of Danny Ainge and the Celtics to make a trade. Bringing in someone fresh who is hungry for a championship could be the key to getting this team back on track. Obviously, players like Kyrie, Al Horford, or Marcus Morris are key to what they are doing, and it would take a lot to get Boston to consider parting with young potential like Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum. However, here are three players the Boston Celtics should grant consideration for dealing before time is up:
Terry Rozier
Due for restricted free agency this summer, Terry’s time with Boston could be up. Rozier was an essential player for the Celtics last season following the loss of Irving. Terry stepped up and performed when his team needed him, including in the postseason. In last years playoffs, he put up 16.5 points, 5.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 2.7 3’s per game, while averaging 36.6 minutes.
Unfortunately, his numbers haven’t looked the same this season. Back in a reserve role, Rozier is putting up 8.5 points, 2.8 assists, 4 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 22.7 minutes per game. He is also shooting under 40 percent from the field for the season. Though he has regressed following his breakout season last year, many still believe he has potential to be a starting point guard in the league. It could be time to sell high on him and get value in return, rather than lose him for nothing come free agency.
Daniel Theis
In his second year with the Boston Celtics, Daniel Theis has remained the go-to back up big for the team. He is putting up similar numbers to his rookie season, and while not flashy, he is at least reliable. For the season, he is averaging 6.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.6 blocks in 15.8 minutes. However, the Celtics may be better served promoting rookie Robert Williams into Theis’ role.
Boston’s first round pick from the draft this past offseason has been coming into form as of late. Williams is outperforming Theis across the board in advanced metrics. First among the team in defensive box-plus-minus, his 7.8 significantly beats out Theis’ 1.4. Both his offensive and defensive rebounding percentages outscore his sophomore counterpart and his block percentage bests Theis’ by a massive 10.7 percent. With a reliable back up center on standby in Williams, Boston could look to move Theis prior to his deal wrapping up at the end of this season.
Gordon Hayward
This season has been one of redemption for Gordon Hayward. After going down minutes into the first game of the year, he was forced to miss the rest of the 2017-18 season. Unfortunately, his return hasn’t been to the magnitude that the team had hoped. Hayward struggled to start the season and was ultimately moved out of the starting role. He has found some success coming off the bench but is still not looking like the player he was prior to the injury.
So far this season, he is putting up 10.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 0.9 steals in 26.4 minutes of playing time per game. He is also shooting percentages from deep and overall lower than his career averages.
Although he signed a max deal to play in Boston alongside former Butler coach Brad Stevens, the Celtics might be best suited in looking for a trade sending him elsewhere. If another team felt that they would be able to help Hayward return to the player he was in Utah, they may be willing to gamble and send Boston a piece more suited for an immediate title run.
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