Before you break out your pitchforks and torches, rest assured — this trade proposal is neither rumored nor actually intended as a legitimate suggestion on what the Boston Celtics ought to do with All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum.
But it does the work it is supposed to that Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley intended, namely creating the most absurd (but presumably remotely plausible) trade deal for every team in the NBA’s most untouchable player.
Why bother with such an exercise, knowing it will never come to fruition?
According to Buckley, “to try to determine the trade value of players who aren’t actually available in trades.”
Cs coach Brad Stevens joins ‘twin’ Pete Buttigieg rallying Democrats https://t.co/rTDPPsRtbW
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) October 21, 2020
In the case of the Celtics, Buckley proposes dealing the Missouri native to the Memphis Grizzlies with big men Enes Kanter and Vincent Poirier in exchange for Jaren Jackson Jr., Dillon Brooks and two Memphis first-round picks in 2021 and 2024, top-5 and top-4 protected, respectively.
Breaking down the rationale behind such a deal, we have a player who would likely need a second-rounder to move in Poirier, and possibly also Kanter at his current salary level.
The Turkish big man is still a situationally-useful player, but with his style of play, those situations may not be worth the pay rate he’ll get if he opts into the final season of his current deal.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) October 21, 2020
The focus of course would be on Tatum, and two players of this caliber plus two first-round picks probably would be enough to start the conversation.
But, in a scenario where a Tatum deal had to get done, it wouldn’t be difficult to beat such an offer, even if the team was clearly over a barrel.
Again, it must be stressed that this is neither planned nor likely — just an exercise to gauge the trade value of the league’s top players, which it accomplishes, in our estimation.
Even if it’s never happening.
