Perfect Celtics Trade Target Just Became Available

As the 2023-24 season reaches the halfway mark, the Boston Celtics continue to be the team to beat as they sit atop the NBA standings with a 31-9 record. The overwhelming success is hardly surprising to Celtics fans, who have the luxury of cheering on All-Star talents like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jrue Holiday.

But even with the Celtics mowing through the competition, there's always room for improvement. For example, Boston's bench has left much to be desired this season, averaging just 28.2 PPG (28th), leaving the door open for general manager Brad Stevens to explore the trade market for help.

Fortunately for the C's, the perfect trade target to help those bench woes just became available.

Celtics Trade Rumors: Grayson Allen a Potential Target?

The Phoenix Suns are opening to trade shooting guard Grayson Allen and forward Nassir Little, per Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer (h/t Forbes Sports' Evan Sidery). Considering the major step his performance has taken this season, it isn't difficult to imagine how Allen is the perfect fit in Boston.

The 28-year-old sharpshooter has been tremendous for the Suns this season, averaging a career-high 13.9 points and 2.8 threes made while shooting 50.3% from the field and 48.0% from the three-point line. He's also averaging 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game, further illustrating how he does a bit of everything.

That's without mentioning how he's finished with at least eight three-pointers four times this season, even finishing with a whopping nine twice in 2024 alone.

Sure, Allen is used to playing starter minutes with the Suns, but coming off the bench for the Celtics could work better for them. Derrick White is the starting SG more often than not, meaning Allen could benefit from weaker matchups as he gives Boston's bench a much-needed boost.

It'll be interesting to see what the asking price for Allen looks like, though. He's under contract for the remainder of the year with a $8.925 million cap hit, per Spotrac, which is an absolute steal given what he's done this season.

With that being said, the Suns are only left with five second-round draft picks over the next six years after acquiring Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal over the last year. The Celtics do have their own first-rounders every year through 2030 except in 2028 and 2029, likely giving them enough future assets to pull off a trade.

It could be tough to find salaries to make things work, though. Outside of Al Horford's $10 million hit, the Celtics don't have any players making similar money to Allen. Seeing as how I don't see them moving the veteran big man, they may need to ship multiple players to Phoenix or get a third time involved.

Whatever the price winds up being (within reason), it'll be worth it if Allen can help lead the Celtics to their first championship since 2008. As of Jan. 17, Boston is FanDuel Sportsbook's odds-on favorite to win the 2023-24 NBA Finals.

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