Utah Jazz Receive: C Robert Williams, F Grant Williams, 2026 First-Round Pick (Swap – BOS), 2027 First-Round Pick (Swap – BOS), 2029 First-Round Pick (Swap – BOS)
Boston Celtics Receive: G Donovan Mitchell
The Stepien rule makes sense. That’s the rule that states that a team can’t go more than two seasons in a row without a first-round pick. It’s designed to save franchises from themselves: trading away your entire future can be tempting, but it can also sink an organization.
We’re not questioning the rule, but still, it sure can be annoying when you construct hypothetical trades for a living.
The Boston Celtics don’t own their 2023, 2025, or 2028 picks. That means they can’t trade their 2024, 2026, 2027, or 2029 picks outright. Meanwhile, the Jazz don’t have a pick in 2024, meaning the Celtics can’t even offer them a swap that year.
If the Jazz insist on a draft-heavy package, the Boston Celtics are out of the Mitchell sweepstakes. Meanwhile, if the Jazz insist on Jaylen Brown, the Celtics should decline. That’s a lateral move that comes at the expense of chemistry.
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On the other hand, if Utah is interested in a 24-year-old defensive anchor in Williams III and a long-term starter in the 23-year-old Williams, they could bite on this Boston Celtics package.
