As Zion Williamson was one of the most hyped individuals entering the 2019 NBA Draft, the expectations and pressure for him were skyrocketing to an exponential level. Before suiting up for his first official game, Williamson already sustained an unfortunate torn meniscus injury in the 2019-20 preseason, which caused him to miss the first half of the season.
Right from the onset, Williamson was terrific as he was raining threes in his inaugural match against the San Antonio Spurs. He was on a minutes restriction for that juncture of the year as he showed some frustration on the court that he was prohibited to play the desired amount of playing time he prefers. The talent is unquestioned as the Boston Celtics could utilize this opportunity of adding a generational talent on the fold.
Even with these issues surrounding his career, the Celtics could pounce on this chance of acquiring a young stud like Williamson.
Less pressure as 2nd option on offense
If indeed Williamson joins the Beantown Boys in the offseason, the eyeballs and pressure may dwindle as he would be second fiddle behind Duke superstar Jayson Tatum. It would be better if Jaylen Brown would still be with the Celtics if they execute this trade, but he will likely be part of the deal. Tatum and Brown have consistently expressed their willingness to stay together long term, but the front office could go on another direction if they fail to achieve another deep playoff run this season.
Playmaking has been a continuous issue in Boston over the last years, but the addition of Derrick White and Marcus' Smart well-developed arsenal has catapulted the Celtics to a respectable level offensively. With Williamson's insertion to the lineup, there was the unstoppable play of making a guard or wing screen for him as he continually attacks the rim. This provides a large boost to the offensive sets of Udoka because a two-man game with Williamson-Brown or Williamson-Tatum would be a lethal combination for Boston.
Defensive weakness will be addressed
Even with a plethora of Williamson's emphatic swats in collegiate ball with Duke and in the NBA, it was very obvious that he could not stay in front with some of the athletes at his position. His athleticism and versatility on offense could translate defensively, but he needs a system and environment like the one imparted by Udoka to his troops.
There have been several athletic players like Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden who are criticized for their lackluster defensive possessions in the regular season, but it is definitive that they could raise it up a notch at the most critical games of their campaign. That will likely be the case for Williamson as well if he is in a squad with Brown, Tatum, White, Smart, and Williams. He does always need to have loud rejections, but he could flourish in the switching schemes of Boston as a guy who could guard anyone from one through five.
It is not likely for President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens to let go of core pieces in his organization in swapping them for an injury-prone star in Williamson. However if the Pelicans are drastically disappointed with his behavior and durability, they could be forced to trigger an adequate deal if they already have the utmost feeling that Williamson would just force himself out, similar to Harden, Ben Simmons, or Jimmy Butler.
Buying low on a talented a multi-faceted star
For a Celtics still in dire need of another forward or wing to bolster their roster, they would wholly welcome the acquisition of Williamson to fill that void. The front court depth chart of Boston is still solid with Al Horford, Robert Williams III, Grant Williams, and Daniel Theis under contract already for next season. However, Williamson brings a unique set from his arsenal that could propel Boston to a brighter future with him on the lineup.
His playing time can gradually increase with the tremendous pieces on the squad as Horford would be a mentor that would guide him through the ropes and revitalize his career. One could easily forget that Joel Embiid was in a similar situation as he was surround by a slew of injuries in the early portion of his career, but he has found his groove since as a MVP-caliber player over the past two seasons.
Williamson and Embiid are not far-fetched in terms of talent and upside, so Boston could capitalize on this chance especially if they have given out on the Tatum-Brown combination already. The Eastern Conference has gotten tougher over the last few seasons, but the Celtics will continue become a staple and a serious contender for the foreseeable future.
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