Heading into the NBA commerce deadline, few had been anticipating the Celtics to swing for the fences with any main strikes that would have disrupted the circulate of the staff with one of the best file within the league. Nonetheless, primarily based on Brad Stevens monitor file of stable doubles over the past couple of years, you couldn’t rule something out. Including Mike Muscala in all probability qualifies as a stroll or possibly a seeing-eye single on this baseball analogy. And Stevens nonetheless has one other at bat left.
It will appear that the large man rotation has been stuffed out now. Behind Al Horford and Robert Williams the staff now has Mike Muscala, Luke Kornet, Grant Williams, and Blake Griffin to eat up minutes and supply a lot wanted relaxation and insurance coverage. As soon as the playoffs begin, we’ll in all probability see a good rotation of Al, Rob, and Grant. However to get to the postseason in a single piece, it is going to be good to provide these guys some nights off and decrease minutes for the remainder of the common season.
As a part of the deal, the Celtics despatched out seldom used Justin Jackson, so there’s nonetheless a roster spot open and a necessity for added wing depth. Sam Hauser is displaying indicators of breaking out of his stoop, which ought to assist some. Nonetheless, it could be good so as to add a participant that gives somewhat extra athleticism and/or defensive potential. Control the buyout market. As a reminder, right here’s what Keith Smith mentioned about that topic in a latest article.
Gamers typically prioritize the next, so as, throughout buyout season: contending for the Finals, taking part in a task after which wage. If the primary two are equal, the third turns into a pleasant tiebreaker. The Celtics can provide extra money than most others, giving them a pleasant benefit for post-trade deadline maneuvering.
Boston additionally has a $3.2M Disabled Participant Exception from Danilo Gallinari that they will use to outbid lots of the patrons available on the market. See right here for some names to keep watch over.
As for the remainder of the league, the most important transfer (by far) was Kevin Durant ending up in Phoenix, which seems to place the Nets again within the rebuilding section. The Bucks lastly landed their Jae Crowder improve. The Sixers added Jalen McDaniels. The Cavs stood pat with what they’ve. Every might nonetheless be a participant within the buyout market as properly, however it’s excellent news for the Celtics that no person within the East received considerably higher.
Now we have the All Star break developing after which it is going to be roughly two months extra of the common season to arrange for the playoffs. The Celtics are nonetheless on the high of the standings however the competitors has caught up and is nipping at their heels. We’ll see if Muscala and whomever they choose up within the buyout market is sufficient to maintain them off and preserve the highest seed.
