The Boston Celtics' immediate and long-term future has been among the most discussed topics in the NBA world lately.
The 18-time NBA champions should be competing against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Instead, the Celtics are watching the Philadelphia 76ers attempt to upset New York and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals after blowing a 3-1 series lead in the first round.
Unsurprisingly, some have urged the Celtics to trade either Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will be arguably the hottest commodity on the trade market this summer. According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, Boston has already decided whether to move on from Tatum.
“Change is clearly necessary for the Celtics,” Siegel reported Friday. “This is not because their roster is a mess and their players don't fit together, but because of the way Boston lost to Philadelphia and collapsed in the series by losing three games on their home floor.”
“Whether or not this change will involve key players like Brown or Derrick White is the ultimate question. Right off the bat, the Celtics will not be considering anything that involves Tatum this offseason. He is the face of the franchise, and after returning earlier than many thought from his Achilles injury, Tatum has regained the mantle as the leader of the team.”
The Celtics are making the correct move. If anyone on the Celtics’ roster should be off limits from a trade vantage point, it should be Tatum.
The Duke product is the heart and soul of its franchise, and the Celtics should be eager to continue building around him. Boston’s failure to prevail with Tatum sidelined (he missed the final two games of the Celtics’ second-round series vs. the Knicks last year, and the last game of the franchise’s opening-round series vs. the 76ers) proves just how valuable the 28-year-old is to the Celtics.
Regarding Brown, the Celtics should be willing to at least listen to trade offers centered on Brown. Boston wants to return to the promised land where it belongs, and perhaps moving on from Brown could help the organization turn that dream into a reality.
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