The Boston Celtics were one of the busiest teams in the NBA this summer. They made a lot of changes. Most of them were upgrades. Now, the Celtics look like title contenders – if not title favorites.
Did losing Marcus Smart hurt? Sure. Even losing Robert Williams III and Malcolm Brogdon stung. With that said, the Celtics added Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. That’s a trade-off that any win-now team would make. The Celtics look better.
Moreover, they’ve got the assets to continue improving. If Boston wanted to make one more win-now trade for a significant player, they could.
Why not replace Smart? Here’s a deal that has them acquiring Alex Caruso from the Chicago Bulls.
NBA Trade Proposal — Boston Celtics Land Alex Caruso
Chicago Bulls Receive: C Luke Kornet, F Svi Mykhailuk, F Lamar Stevens, G/F Dalano Banton, 2026 First-Round Pick (BOS)
Boston Celtics Receive: G/F Alex Caruso
On the other hand, the Bulls were altogether stagnant this summer. This group ran back virtually the same roster that they did in 2022-23. For fans of the organization, this was a disappointment. After all, the Bulls fell short of expectations last season.
It’s interesting. What does this say about each team’s mentality? The Celtics had a relatively strong 2022-23 season. They made improvements anyway. Boston is in title or bust mode. SHouldn’t the Bulls have the same mentality?
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Allex Caruso, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics Updates
After all, this is an expensive, veteran-heavy roster. There’s no reason why the Bulls should be satisfied. Perhaps that’s why it’s been suggested that the Bulls could blow up their roster if they haven’t made progress by this year’s deadline.
Is this an acceptable return for Caruso?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
The Bulls have one obvious incentive to make this move: a first-round pick. Little else matters here. With that said, could they be intrigued by any of the players that they’re receiving here?
We think so. Banton is still young enough to improve. In theory. he’s a jumbo playmaker. Banton is 6’9 and listed as a point guard – that alone makes him intriguing. At 25, Kornett is a reasonable stretch big man to add to the roster as well.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Allex Caruso, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics Updates
Still, this is mostly about the pick. If the Bulls are moving Caruso, that likely means that they’re rebuilding. In that event, they’ll receive plenty of draft capital for the rest of the veterans on their roster. Should the Celtics give up an unprotected first for Caruso?
Why The Boston Celtics Do The Deal
Absolutely. The Celtics are already this close. It’s time to push all in. Any first-round picks left at their disposal are only wasted opportunities.
Meanwhile, it’s fair to say that this team will miss Smart. Sure., Derrick White is a stout perimeter defender. That’s why trading Smart for Porzingis made sense. Still, having as many lockdown defenders as possible will always be beneficial.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Allex Caruso, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics Updates
Is a trio of Holiday, White, and Caruso overkill? Some will say so. We beg to differ. Caruso can play the 3 in small ball line-ups. Boston can find time for all of these guys in their rotation. In doing so, they could be busy again next summer – celebrating an NBA championship.
