Steven Adams is intelligent, thoughtful, humorous and he could be the strongest player in the Association. The Oklahoma City Thunder center could also be on his way to Boston before the 2019-20 season, as NBC Sports Boston’s A. Sherrod Blakely reports that the six-year NBA veteran “is on Boston’s radar.”
Blakely adds that “it’s unclear where he falls in the team’s pecking order as far as players they plan to pursue, or exactly what they are willing to give up in order to acquire him.”
At 7-foot-0 and 265 pounds, the 25-year-old Adams is a defensive anchor for the Thunder while also providing tremendous value in the pick-and-roll as both a hard screener and efficient finisher around the rim. He’s not going to confuse anybody for a guard anytime soon but he’s also surprisingly nimble and it’s truly rare that the Big Kiwi is seen getting beat off-the-bounce.
Frankly, Adams — like most centers of his size — would be better in a drop defensive scheme that minimizes the amount time a big man is expected to defend out onto the perimeter. Celtics head coach Brad Stevens is going to be cognizant of that and with the defenders Boston is expected to field next year, only switching 1-3 or 1-4 when Adams is on the floor won’t be detrimental to the team in any way.
However, the former 12th overall pick will make $25.8 million next season (the reason he’s on the trade block) and unless Boston plans to use almost all of their projected $28 million in cap space to bring him on, they’ll have to surrender a couple of players.
One such player could be prized young center Robert Williams III, who already shows the potential to be an elite shot-blocker.
Another option is for fan favorites such as Semi Ojeleye or Guerschon Yabusele to be traded to the Thunder as well.
Adams averaged 13.9 points, 9.5 rebounds (4.9 offensive), 1.6 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.0 steal per game in 2018-19. An incredibly tough and durable player, Adams has never played fewer than 70 games in a season.
