Looking Back at 2023 Trades
Before the season started, it was clear that the Boston Celtics had one of the best rosters in the league. First, let's take a look at who left the City of Champions. Surprisingly, the Celtics traded Marcus Smart, the heart of the team. Everyone was surprised, but one thing is certain: Brad Stevens saw the bigger picture.
Then, the Celtics traded Malcolm Brogdon, a great two-way player. It doesn't end there; next up, we have Grant Williams, a very solid shooter, but more importantly, a very valuable defender who can guard great scorers like Kevin Durant. Robert Williams left Boston, which surprised me because there is no player in the league like Timelord, a 6'9" guy who can catch alley-oops wherever you throw them. Not only that, but Williams is also a true defensive menace. Now, let's look at the bigger picture I told you about earlier.
Smart was part of a three-team deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Celtics. I don't know if Latvian Unicorn can fill Timelord's shoes on defense, but he is definitely a better offensive player. In exchange for Brogdon and Williams, the Celtics got Jrue Holiday, who was originally traded to the Trail Blazers in the Damian Lillard trade. Holiday is another incredible two-way player and a great piece for the Celtics. Also, the Celtics acquired Xavier Tillman from the Memphis Grizzlies, Oshae Brisset from the Indiana Pacers, and Svi Mykhailuk, who was a free agent.
Roster Overview - What Did the New Players Bring?
With Kristaps Porzingis putting on the green and white jersey, the Celtics got an offensive threat and one of the best shooting big men in the league. Porzingis is a fantastic rim protector who is averaging two blocks per game this season. Without a doubt, Porzingis brings strength to the paint that Boston needed after trading Williams. That said, as the playoffs get closer and closer, it would be good to check Porzingis's stats in the playoffs. When Porzingis was playing for the Dallas Mavericks, he averaged 18 points with seven rebounds in 10 games.
With Jrue Holiday, the Celtics got both a defensive and offensive threat. Let's not forget about Holiday's role on the Bucks during their championship run. Holiday played a super important role alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. Holiday saved the Bucks season in game seven versus Brooklyn Nets.
Holiday's defense in finals was magnificent, as he averaged two steals per game in the series against the Phoenix Suns. Holiday is a player who can definitely deliver in the playoffs, on both sides of the floor, and in clutch moments.
Key Players That Stayed
Although Marcus Smart left Boston, superstars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown stayed. We all know how dangerous this duo of elite-level scorers is. These two alone are already enough to build a franchise around, but when you add Derrick White, you get a very good big three. White is simply a player who does the work the stat sheet doesn't catch. White is a sensational two-way player who undoubtedly plays a very important role in the Celtics rotation.
I would say White is the X factor of the Boston Celtics and arguably the most important player on the team. Don't forget about Al Horford, another great player who brings the experience every team needs. When you add Porzingis and Holiday, you get a great team with incredible scorers and elite defenders.
Role Players
Every team has role players that can explode from time to time, and that's no different for the Celtics. The first two players that come to my mind are Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser. Pritchard is a 26-year-old, 6'1" guard whose role on the Celtics gets bigger season after season. Interestingly, Pritchard wanted to be traded only a year ago because he wanted a bigger role in the Celtics. Instead of getting traded, Pritchard got what he wanted and proved he deserved it.
When we talk about Hauser, the first thing we should mention is his phenomenal shooting. This season, Hauser is shooting 42% from the three-point line, which is unbelievable. When Hauser gets it going, he won't miss. Also, there are players like Luke Kornet, who was mentioned earlier, Oshae Brissett, and Xavier Tillman, who add more strength to the paint. Although Svi Mykhailuk only gets minutes from time to time, he is another great scorer, and I believe he should get more playing time from Joe Mazzulla.
What Does the Future Hold for the Celtics?
When you see all this, one thing is for sure. The Boston Celtics look scary. With superstars like Tatum and Brown, all-star level players White, Holiday, and Porzingis, and players that can pop off from time to time, you have a team that can win it all. The Celtics are by far the best team in the NBA, and they have seven more wins than two seeded Milwaukee Bucks. The Celtics are the first team to clinch a playoff berth, are ranked as the best offensive team in the NBA 2nd best defensive team, and for me they are the favorites to win it all right now.
