After striking out with Anthony Davis, the Boston Celtics are looking elsewhere to improve their roster. Reports suggest that they are in a position to have themselves a top-five pick in Thursday’s draft. Some media personnel are saying that Boston may even trade for a critical piece for the franchise.
Whether it’s a draft prospect or a proven star in this league, the next two and a half days will be crucial for Danny Ainge and his franchise.
This won’t be your typical offseason.
The Vet: Washington’s Bradley Beal
Many people in the NBA don’t get the credit they deserve, and somewhere in the top-tier is Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal. On a poorly constructed team that struggled with injuries and bad contracts, Beal played in all 82 games last season and averaged 25.6 points, 5.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest,
With star playmaker Kyrie Irving all but set to depart his home of the last two seasons, Boston will have to give the keys to the offense to a deserving successor.
Forward Jayson Tatum could be given the keys to the offense and, in fact, that’s the expectation on a roster without Irving. However, Tatum and Beal — two former third overall picks — can be the one-two punch that nobody saw coming. Both are from St. Louis, and Beal and Tatum are close friends and often train together, which is a bonus for the two of them.
For the Celtics as a whole, it provides them with an elite sniper from three-point range who can create his own shots and quietly explodes to the rim.
A trade for Beal would have to include at least one first round pick and a couple players. On Tuesday, NBC Sports Boston’s Darren Hartwell wrote about two potential trade packages:
One league source suggested that Washington would need to strongly consider an offer of Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart and a protected pick for Beal or that Boston could offer Smart, Jaylen Brown and two future first-rounders as an alternative trade.
Losing Tatum or Jaylen Brown would obviously take away a young core piece of the Celtics’ rebuild but it would also keep Boston in step with the top-tier Eastern Conference like the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks.
Getting Beal would be a trade that could also lead to an extension, as his deal does expire in 2021.
The Prospect: Mfiondu Kabengele
After leading the Florida State Seminoles to their school’s best record (29-8) since the 1977-78 season, big man Mfiondu Kabengele is ready to take his talents to the best basketball league on the planet. A projected lottery pick, his athleticism, motor and willingness to improve his game make him one of my favorite prospects in Thursday’s NBA Draft.
As a sophomore, the former Seminole led his team in scoring this past season off the bench and was quickly the best player on their roster. His 13.2 points came in a variety of ways but the 6-10 power forward was most impressive beyond the arc, shooting the ball at 36.9 percent from deep for the year.
An impressive stat for player his size.
Entering this summer, the Celtics don’t have anyone who they can turn to and ask to be a stretch-big and hit the boards. The 250-pound Kabengele is that guy; a fearless competitor who will be able to provide energy on both ends of the floor.
Acquiring these two players would improve the Celtics roster and bench by immediately inserting one of the league’s best scorers into the starting lineup and one of the more dynamic prospects in the 2019 draft.
