Before the 2019-20 season was suspended due to COVID-19, the Boston Celtics were in third place in the Eastern Conference standings. Behind the stellar play of Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart, and Gordon Hayward, Boston had a record of 43-21 and looked primed to go on a deep playoff run.
In his first season with the Celtics, Walker was averaging 21.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. The four-time All-Star was on a contender for the first time in his career and looking forward to playing in the postseason.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 happened and now the 2019-20 season might get canceled altogether. Should that be the case, it would be a downer for everyone in the NBA, as all the hard work teams put into their craft will have gone to waste.
Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge was aggressive on the phones at the 2020 trade deadline. However, Ainge wound up not making a trade despite his willingness to. The Celtics were linked to Washington Wizards power forward Davis Bertans and Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson. Boston needed a big, especially for the playoffs.
If the 2019-20 season ends up getting canceled, Ainge and the Celtics will have to focus on the team's offseason plans, such as preparing for the 2020 draft and free agency. There will be plenty of high-caliber players available to sign on the open market this offseason and the Celtics are in dire need of a backup point guard behind Walker and a big man who can help the team on the boards.
Fred VanVleet, Goran Dragic, and Jordan Clarkson are the three best guards who are hitting the open market in 2020. VanVleet and Dragic are looking for starting roles, so the Celtics won't be pursuing them.
Clarkson, though, is a guy who could help Boston since he's a solid microwave scorer off the bench and can play point guard and shooting guard. With that said, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Ainge and Co. pursue Clarkson.
However, if the Celtics were smart, they will try and get Tristan Thompson again. Thompson becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so Boston won't have to part ways with anything to acquire “Double T,” who is one of the best rebounders in the NBA and doesn't need the ball on offense to be effective.
Celtics legend Paul Pierce tried to convince Thompson to take a buyout from the Cleveland Cavaliers and sign with Boston this season. However, Thompson wasn't prepared to lose money and wound up sticking with the Cavs.
Thompson could play an important role on the Celtics if Ainge signed the ferocious rebounder. Boston would be wise to bolster its center depth this summer and Thompson's rebounding and interior defense would be valuable to the team.
Tristan also has plenty of playoff experience. He played in four straight NBA Finals with LeBron James and was part of the 2016 Cavs team that won it all after defeating the Golden State Warriors in seven games.
Before the 2019-20 season was suspended, Thompson was averaging 12.0 points and 10.1 rebounds while shooting 51.2 percent from the field. If the Celtics signed the 29-year-old, they could throw out a starting lineup of Walker, Brown, Tatum, Hayward, and Thompson, with Smart, Brad Wanamaker, Grant Williams, Semi Ojeleye and Enes Kanter coming off the bench.
Thompson's energy, defense, leadership, and rebounding would make the Celtics legit title contenders in the Eastern Conference.
