As the second half of the NBA season begins, Nikola Vucevic and Jerami Grant know the March 25 trade deadline is less than three weeks away. Several contending teams will look to make moves to keep themselves afloat in the playoff race. As the Boston Celtics look to make adjustments, the trade deadline is the perfect opportunity to bring in new pieces into the rotation.
The Celtics offseason wasn’t as great as many would imagine. Although they drafted phenomenal players in Payton Pritchard and Aaron Nesmith, the goal should have been to bring in a young center. Looking at last year’s playoffs, the team needed a big man who could protect the rim and crash the glass. The lack of productivity showed in the Eastern Conference Finals as they lost to the Miami Heat in six games.
Danny Ainge believed that it was a great idea to bring in veteran players to surround his young stars, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. The Celtics were able to sign Jeff Teague and Tristan Thompson. Thompson’s purpose was to fill the void of an enforcer under the basket. But due to injuries and role changes, he hasn’t produced at a consistent level for Boston.
This season has been a struggle for the Boston Celtics to say the least. The team has been riddled with injuries along with health and safety protocols.
Missed time has hurt the Celtics tremendously as Brad Stevens has had to become creative with his lineup. Boston is currently ranked number 19 in defensive rating and sits at 19-17 on the season.
Despite the struggles, the Celtics closed the first half of the season on a good note. The team is currently on a four-game winning streak and is showing signs of flourishing with one another. Although things have gotten better for Boston, they understand that they are still not at the level that can help them reach the NBA Finals.
Two key players could be on the Celtics’ radar as the trade deadline approaches. Both Nikola Vucevic of the Orlando Magic and Jerami Grant of the Detroit Pistons have increased their value tremendously through the season. Vucevic became an all-star in the Eastern Conference while Grant has become a candidate for Most Improved Player. For Boston to bring in one of these two players, Danny Ainge will need to offer a few role players and potentially a few first-round picks.
Celtics options: Nikola Vucevic
Vucevic would be a tremendous complement for the Celtics playing alongside Tatum and Brown. He shows versatility at the center position by scoring from all areas and distributing with his IQ. Adding Vucevic and his caliber would allow Boston to have a better chance of competing with teams in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, etc.
As Vucevic has three years remaining on his contract, there are a few ways that Danny Ainge can match it with Orlando. Celtics fans may not be pleased with shipping away Marcus Smart. But trading him, Tristan Thompson, and a 2021 first-round pick would make the trade a success.
Vucevic has played with the Orlando Magic for nine seasons. The franchise has only been able to make the playoffs twice in that span and are showing to go in rebuild mode. As Vucevic is only 30 years of age, he can elevate the Celtics as a team in a very competitive Eastern Conference.
Jerami Grant
Grant has proven that he can be a number one option for a franchise. After increasing his value last season with the Denver Nuggets, Grant decided to find a way to continue to utilize his true potential. This season, Grant is averaging 23.4 points per game along with 5.3 rebounds and three assists. Despite the Pistons’ franchise being under the ropes, Grant’s performances have been top-notch. The question for Danny Ainge is how does he add this young star to his roster with the Celtics?
Grant could fill in the spot for a big four in Boston with him, Tatum, Brown, and Kemba Walker. Brad Stevens could place him at the small forward position while having Brown play shooting guard and Tatum placed at the power forward. With Grant having three years remaining on his contract, Marcus Smart may once again be the sacrificial piece that gets shipped the way. Sending the Pistons Smart along with two 2021 picks and a 2022 first-round pick would allow this trade to become a success for the Celtics.
Conclusion
Danny Ainge has expressed his frustration with the current roster for the Celtics. Through his 18 years of being a general manager, Ainge has never been afraid to trade pieces to bring in better opportunities. As Nikola Vucevic and Jerami Grant are on the trade market, Ainge will make a move to secure one of these stars.