It’s been a busy summer for the Boston Celtics. They’ve been among the NBA’s most active teams. The Celtics began the summer with a bang by flipping Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porzingis. Now, they’ve made another splash. The Celtics acquired Jrue Holiday to replace – and upgrade – Smart.
Eastern Conference rivals ought to be shaking in their boots. The Celtics may have assembled the most talented team in basketball. With that said, it hasn’t necessarily been a perfect summer. The Celtics had to give up Robert Williams III in their bid to land Holiday. That was a trade worth making, but it’s still a concern.
Luckily, the Celtics have the resources to replace Williams III. They could mine free agency for a budget replacement. At the same time, they still have the draft capital left over to make a bigger splash. We’re going to look at it from every angle. Here are three targets that the Celtics could consider as replacements for Williams III.
Nerlens Noel
We hear you. Is Nerlens Noel really a feasible replacement for Robert Williams III? A healthy Williams III is a game-breaker. He’s among the most versatile defensive big men in the NBA. On the other hand, Noel is simply solid. There’s a reason he isn’t even on an NBA roster at the moment.
Yet, that’s part of the appeal of Noel. The Celtics could offer him a one-year minimum and he’d likely accept. Moreover, this is still a valuable rotation player. Noel isn’t as agile as Williams III, but he can still defend in space to some extent. He’s also a capable rim protector.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Robert Williams III, Nerlens Noel & Boston Celtics Updates
He’s also, like Williams III, injury-prone. Sure, Noel is more durable than the man they call Time Lord, but the Celtics could be seeking a more reliable option. Could they reunite with a former player?
Daniel Theis
Another non-flashy name here. Theis isn’t a sexy player. Acquiring him won’t break the internet. Luckily for the Celtics, it won’t break the bank, either. Theis is on an affordable deal. Moreover, he’s already got some familiarity with the organization. Theis spent the best years of his career in Boston. This would be his third tour of duty with the organization.
Besides, he remains a valuable player. Theis is a lunch pale player. He shows up, does the dirty work, doesn’t complain about his role, and goes home. Theis provides a semblance of floor spacing and versatile defense. He doesn’t excel in any one facet of the game, but he’s solid across the board. Reuniting with him would make sense for Boston.
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Unless they wanted to make a bigger splash, that is. The Celtics could target a higher-profile player. It’ll cost them substantial draft capital, but if they want to make an all-in push, they may be happy to pay that price.
Nicolas Claxton
In the modern NBA, switch big men have a certain value. A center that can guard the perimeter allows teams to deploy a wider range of defensive schemes. With that in mind, Nic Claxton may be the only upgrade over a healthy Williams III in the entire league. This is a player who can guard across positions.
This isn’t a no-brainer for Boston. Claxton is in a contract year. In all likelihood, Boston would have to surrender something like an unprotected first-round pick and a swap to land him. Meanwhile, they likely couldn’t afford to retain him next summer without doing some major reshuffling. What exactly are we thinking here?
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Robert Williams III, Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets & Boston Celtics Updates
We’re thinking that Boston wants to win an NBA title in 2023-24. If they give up a significant package for Claxton and lose him in the summer, they won’t care one bit if they’ve got an NBA title to show for it. Yes, it’s a tremendous risk, but it could be one worth taking. As we’ve seen this summer, the Celtics are not opposed to making major moves.
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