Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a big question mark heading into the trade deadline because nobody really knows what to expect from them.
Going 8-1 in their last nine games and winning six straight, the Celtics are red-hot right now, but they need a little bit more talent if they are to truly be a playoff threat.
Currently 31-25 on the season, the Celtics have worked their way up to the 7-seed in the Eastern Conference and are only 4.5 games back from first-place in the conference. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown need more secondary scorers around them in order to carry this team deep into the playoffs, which is why Harrison Barnes could be a great fit for them.
Barnes is shooting upwards of 40% from deep this season, as well as averaging 16.9 points per game. His usage would be a little lower in Boston than it currently is in Sacramento given that Tatum and Brown are the primary options for the Celtics, but Harrison Barnes would join Boston as their third-best scoring option based on season averages.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Latest Intel Surrounding All 30 NBA Teams Entering Trade Deadline
With the Kings “retooling” their roster right now and looking to build around Sabonis and Fox long-term, they could be very open to acquiring a handful of young assets, as well as a proven veteran such as Josh Richardson from Boston.
A package of Josh Richardson, Aaron Nesmith and Romeo Langford could be enough value for the Celtics to pry Harrison Barnes away from Sacramento.
However, Boston is looking to avoid paying luxury taxes this season, as they currently sit a couple million over the tax line on the season, and they are looking to utilize their many trade exceptions at the expense of guys like Dennis Schroder and Josh Richardson.
The Celtics have trade exceptions worth $17.1 million, $9.7 million and $6.9 million this season, giving them plenty of flexibility to make one or two decent sized moves at the trade deadline without giving up a handful of key assets.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Latest Intel Surrounding All 30 NBA Teams Entering Trade Deadline
Harrison Barnes would instantly open up the Celtics offense and give them another versatile scoring option on the wing, but his contract could be too much for Boston to take on this season.
