Myles Turner – PF/C – Indiana Pacers
Myles Turner to the Boston Celtics trade rumors have been a thing for years now, so why not continue the tradition? Of course, the Celtics would want to acquire Turner because they have not had a reliable center for years now.
We will see how Boston does this year at the center position, as they signed Tristan Thompson in the offseason, but bringing in a guy like Myles Turner could bring this Celtics franchise their 18th championship in the organization’s history. Not to mention, Myles Turner could play alongside Tristan Thompson in the frontcourt, giving Boston a great rebounding tandem and one of the top interior defensive teams in the entire league.
Boston has been on the verge of making the NBA Finals for the last four seasons as they have lost in the Eastern Conference Finals three times in the last four years. Bringing in a big man like Myles Turner to pair with Kemba, Brown and Tatum not only makes the Celtics a dangerous, athletic and young team, but it would be enough to finally get them to the NBA Finals.
Myles Turner is one of the best defensive big men in the entire NBA, averaging 2.1 blocks per game in five NBA seasons, and joining a Celtics team that finished second in the league in opponents points per game last season is crazy to think about. The Celtics gave up around 107 points per game to their opponents last season, but with the addition of a player like Turner, that number could fall below 103 points per game and while that does not seem like a major difference, it easily adds 5+ wins to the Boston Celtics.
The biggest question about acquiring Myles Turner for the Boston Celtics is who would they have to give up to acquire him and along with a slew of draft picks, they would most likely have to give up either Jaylen Brown or Marcus Smart. Boston would probably prefer to trade Smart in this scenario, but Marcus Smart has consistently been one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.
Giving up one of the best perimeter defenders in the league for one of the best interior defenders in the league is a risky move, but something that could pay off on both ends of the court for the Celtics. Myles Turner is more versatile in terms of where to put him on the court and can be a better offensive weapon than his numbers say he is as well.
With his abilities to be a factor on both ends of the court and be a threat to shoot as a center, Myles Turner could greatly affect this Boston Celtics team and not only help bring them to the NBA Finals but possibly help them win a championship.
Defensive players like Turner do not hit the market too often and with him being a legit offensive threat as well, it would not be smart for the Celtics to pass up an opportunity to acquire him. Everything depends on if the Pacers are willing to trade Myles Turner, but his situation with the Pacers is something the Boston Celtics should monitor very closely.
