The Boston Celtics could make a trade for Jimmy Butler and/or Jahlil Okafor to surround Al Horford with young talents that could spur the team into a legit title contender.
The Celtics are one of the few winners in this year's free agency after convincing Horford to leave the Atlanta Hawks and choose Boston. While Horford's addition may boost the Celtics into title contenders, , the All-Star center alone may not be enough to topple a Lebron James-led squad or Warriors' newly-formed super-team.
There is not much left in the market, but the Celtics could still make significant moves to bolster their lineup. According to Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald, the Celtics could revisit trade talks for Jimmy Butler and Jahlil Okafor, with Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers reportedly both open to trading their respective young talents.
"Jimmy Butler and Jahlil Okafor are said to be still available, but getting them now won't be as easy as on draft night when Chicago and Philadelphia, respectively, both coveted the No. 3 overall pick so they could take Providence's Kris Dunn," Bulpett wrote.
"There are indications the Celtics may still be able to do business with the Bulls and 76ers, but both sides will have to get creative."
If there is any team in the league right now who could pull off a pair of blockbuster trades, it would be the Celtics. The team has plenty of tradable assets and still has enough cap space to absorb Butler and Okafor's contract. The Celtics also have Jaylen Brown, a promising youngster from University of California.
Butler could give the Celtics a go-to-scorer at the wing position and would seamlessly fit in Brad Stevens' system. Surely, any deal for Butler would include Jae Crowder, but the former is no doubt an upgrade over the latter on both ends of the floor.
Meanwhile, Okafor would add to the Celtics' already loaded frontcourt, but his ability to score could make him Horford's sidekick down the paint. While Okafor's inability to defend well would possibly be a red flag in acquiring him, his ability to effectively score inside could be too intriguing to pass on for the Celtics.
As Bulpett insisted, the Celtics must be creative with any trade packages they could offer to the Bulls and 76ers. Trading for Okafor could be more manageable but a deal for Butler would certainly consist many pieces, including future draft picks essential for the Bulls' rebuild.
It is no secret the Celtics are still looking for a blockbuster acquisition, especially after falling short of the Durant sweepstakes. With the market already dried up of top talents, expect the Celtics to become major players in trade talks.