The Boston Celtics will always be in the conversation for NBA trade rumors involving the biggest names in the league.
The team just acquired Al Horford and the most of the experts have penciled them in as the team that could present the toughest challenge to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
However, giving them a good fight and actually taking them down are two very different projections and the same pundits think that Boston, as currently constructed, are not quite there yet. ESPN Insider had their panel of experts weigh in.
Amin Elhassan noted that the Celtics are young, talented and well-coached but they still face "enormous odds" to beat the Cavs. Kevin Pelton had a similar opinion noting that Horford's addition takes the Celtics ahead of the Toronto Raptors or the Indiana Pacers, but against the Cavs, they have a "long shot."
Fortunately for the team, they have future assets to convert into someone they could use today. Another ESPN Insider, Jeremias Engelmann named Boston as a possible superstar trade destination.
"On the other hand, if a star becomes disgruntled and demands a trade -- I think Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins are strong candidates here -- the Celtics might want to pull the trigger."
Cousins is already (or always) on the brink of a trade demand and it would not be a surprise if he declares that he's had it with one of the most dysfunctional front offices in the league, but Anthony Davis? It's actually a real issue according to the New Orleans Pelicans team blog The Bird Writes.
"All of recent basketball history tells us Anthony Davis will leave New Orleans," wrote David Fisher, who admonished the Pelicans front office to make moves to retain him.
If Davis does demand a trade, the Celtics undoubtedly have the best package for a long-term rebuild. They should send their Brooklyn picks, Jae Crowder and any other player (except probably for Al Horford) to get the Unibrow.
However, this is still a pipe dream and Davis is under contract. Another player also under contract but more likely to leave is Jimmy Butler. Tom Haberstroh believes that the Chicago Bulls' offseason moves was merely a precursor to a full rebuild and if the experiment fails to pan out, Butler is likely to leave.
"Butler for Avery Bradley, Amir Johnson, the 2017 Brooklyn Nets first-rounder (for which Boston has swap rights) and another first-rounder. If the Bulls' highly-flammable situation combusts in the early going, don't be surprised if the Celtics make a 'Godfather' offer for Butler. The Bulls' rebuild may be near," Haberstroh declared.
A Horford-Butler pairing may be the one to bring the Cavs on the edge and the Boston Celtics can actually make it happen.