The NBA trade deadline is March 25, meaning trade rumors will continue to heat up in the coming weeks. As usual, the Boston Celtics are in the middle of plenty of these rumors, and president Danny Ainge has openly talked about the possibility of upgrading the roster.
We've seen names like Nikola Vucevic and Jerami Grant be potential trade candidates for the Celtics, but it seems one name is actually sticking out to Boston's front office more than anyone else, at least according to Celtics television analyst Brian Scalabrine.
That would be Harrison Barnes:
"The Celtics want Harrison Barnes …. Don’t listen to all the smoke and mirrors about all these other guys."
Sorting through trade rumors with @tvabby + @Scalabrine, and why Barnes is more realistic than Grant or Vucevic. pic.twitter.com/QPLDXURyj2
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) March 5, 2021
With his championship experience, Barnes would step in and provide versatility in the Celtics' rotation. He can play small forward, and if they want to play small ball, he can bounce over to the power forward position. With a strong starting lineup and a weak bench, this trade would increase Boston's chances of climbing the ranks in the Eastern Conference.
Barnes has been having a solid season so far, averaging 16.7 points, 3.6 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game. He has rejuvenated his career after struggling with the Dallas Mavericks before his trade to Sacramento.
The Celtics could really use some help off the bench in order to make a deep playoff run, and acquiring Harrison Barnes could be the exact player they need. Boston has a $28.5 million trade exception to use, and while there are concerns about the luxury tax and hard cap, the franchise could is still in position to potentially make a trade work as long as Danny Ainge is willing to give up enough.
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