It’s safe to say the Boston Celtics offense hasn’t been up to par so far this season. Despite having a pair of players in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown who are both averaging over 24 points per game this season, Boston’s offense has rarely put together a full 48 minute outing. It’s one of the main reasons that this team currently sits on the edge of the play-in picture in the Eastern Conference with a 19-21 record.
The stats tell a similar story. The Celtics offensive rating sits at 108.3, which is just 22nd in the league. That’s far too low for a team that boasts both Tatum and Brown in their starting lineup. And considering they are both scoring close to 25 points per game, it’s becoming quite clear they are not the issue.
Behind Tatum and Brown, only four players average double figures on a nightly basis for this team. Making matters worse, they rarely do it on the same nights. So maybe Dennis Schroder for instance, shows up with a 20 point game off the bench, only to be weighed down by an 0-10 Marcus Smart shooting performance. It’s not just these two guys either; you can substitute pretty much any rotation player here and they will fit the description.
This has become far too common of a reoccurrence for the Celtics this season, and it’s clear that changes need to be made. They have an elite defensive team from the looks of it, but so far that hasn’t led to anything. With the trade season in the NBA approaching, here are two trades that could be made to help improve the team’s offense.
Boston Celtics trade No. 2
First, I’ll give credit where credit is due to a user named MikeySpags who suggested this trade in the comments on one of our recent Celtics articles (yes, we do check those). A lot of the suggested trades for Boston have them pretty much throwing their entire roster and future draft selections at another team for a star to pair up with Tatum and Brown. And while that sounds fun, it’s not very likely to happen.
A move like this makes much more sense. The Celtics would bring in some marked offensive improvements to help Tatum and Brown, while the Clippers would shore up their defense for the long run when Paul George and Kawhi Leonard return from injuries. And most importantly, it doesn’t require the team to mortgage their future on a risky move for a star.
In terms of fairness, this deal really depends on what you value. Schroder and Reggie Jackson are very similar players, as both are gifted scorers that aren’t exactly fantastic three point shooters. Jackson’s efficiency is way down from last season due to him having to pick up most of the slack in the wake of George and Leonard being injured. If Jackson ended up in Boston, he would most likely benefit from having less responsibility playing behind Tatum and Brown.
Adding Luke Kennard would give the Boston Celtics a weapon they don’t have. Kennard is a three point specialist who has his limitations elsewhere on the court, but would give the offense something it doesn’t have right now. Smart’s defense would be missed, but he would probably be forgotten very quickly if Kennard comes in and shoots like he has his whole career.
And then Marcus Morris Sr. would make a return to Boston, giving the team another shooter they desperately need. It’s been great having Al Horford back in the fold, but he’s clearly not the player he once was, and you can make a pretty convincing case that Grant Williams deserves to take over his starting role. Moving Horford would allow for this to happen, and give Boston’s bench another floor spacing shooter who could help open up the floor for Tatum and Brown.
There are a lot of reasons to like this deal, but the main reason is because of how much offensive potential would be added to this team. It’s clear this team is not balanced in terms of offense and defense, and they desperately need an infusion of offensive talent. This deal would allow them to accomplish that, and while it would be tough to part with a hometown veteran like Smart, it would be necessary for the betterment of the team.
Boston Celtics trade No. 1
The Sacramento Kings have been mired in mediocrity for quite some time now, and this season is looking to be no different. It may finally be time to blow up their inconsistent core group, and look to build around De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton. That would mean moving on from guys like Buddy Hield and Marvin Bagley III.
Swapping Hield for Schroder essentially would be an interesting move, but one that is beneficial for both sides. Hield is a shooter, and while he isn’t much of a playmaker, his playstyle is a much better fit in the offense’s than Schroder’s currently is. The Kings would get some salary cap relief by taking on Schroder’s diminutive salary, which would be very beneficial for them down the line.
Bagley is a bit more complicated. He’s shown tons of potential throughout his career, but has never come close to reaching it with Sacramento. Combine that with numerous trade requests and drama, and it’s a miracle he is still playing for the Kings.
The C’s could take a flier on Bagley here and hope a change of scenery could bring out the best in him. Bagley has proven to be a gifted interior scorer, and he could be the perfect candidate to play either alongside Robert Williams, or give him rest when he’s tired. On the other hand, Horford offers the Kings another nice contract for next season, and some consistency they didn’t necessarily have with Bagley.
Both teams seem to be trending in the wrong direction currently, but a move like this could be very beneficial for both sides. The Boston Celtics get some young scoring help, while the Kings will get some much needed cap relief to help them reverse their fortunes in the future. It may not be the most exciting trade, but it’s one that would almost certainly help both teams for now and down the line.