NBA fans should be afraid of the Boston Celtics. They’ve got it all. This is one of the best teams in basketball. If the Celtics walk away from the 2023-24 season with a championship, nobody will be surprised.
Think about it. The Celtics have a pair of offensive stars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. They’ve got arguably the best two-way backcourt in the league between Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.
Between Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, they’ve got ample floor spacing and defense in the frontcourt, too. What more could the Celtics need?
Well, they could use one more 3-and-D forward in their rotation. The Celtics have the assets to land one, too. Given that this team has a title window, they should spend those assets.
Could they spend some on Royce O’Neale of the Brooklyn Nets?
NBA Trade Proposal
Brooklyn Nets Receive: F Oshae Brissett, G/F Delano Banton, F Lamar Stevens, F Svi Mykhailuk, 2025 First-Round Pick (Lottery Protected – BOS)
Boston Celtics Receive: F Royce O’Neale
Should NBA fans be afraid of the Nets? Not at the moment. Should Nets fans be afraid for their future? We wouldn’t go that far, either.
Sure, it’s been a trying season for Brooklyn. Yes, they owe the Houston Rockets their draft through to 2027. At this point, it appears likely that they’ll send the Rockets a lottery pick in 2024. That’s unfortunate.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Royce O’Neale, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics Updates
It’s not the end of the world. The Nets play in one of the biggest markets in the league. They have a surplus of picks from other teams. Brooklyn will likely be competitive again sooner rather than later.
Does this deal help them get there?
Why The Brooklyn Nets Do The Deal
If the Nets make this deal, they’ll be conceding that this year is finished. That’s probably a wise decision. The path forward for Brooklyn is to acquire a star without giving up any of their best players. At the moment, it doesn’t appear likely that the right star will be available at this year’s deadline.
So, why not punt on the season? The Nets should be sellers at the deadline. They should be seeking draft capital. They have a decent collection now, but if they can build on it, the Nets could trade for the first star to become available this summer.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Royce O’Neale, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics Updates
That’s all they’re doing here. Otherwise, Banton has some potential, and Stevens and Brisset are solid. Still, this is largely about flipping a quality veteran for a lottery-protected first.
Should the Celtics send that pick to the Nets for O’Neale?
Why The Boston Celtics Do The Deal
O’Neale’s trade value is a bit difficult to gauge. If he’s available for a handful of second-rounders, the Celtics will make that deal. Still, we think he’s worth a highly protected first to this club.
After all, he’s among the most reliable 3-and-D wings in the league. O’Neale does provide a semblance of playmaking as well. He’s a solid secondary passer. With that said, the Celtics won’t need him to do much with the talent on this roster.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Royce O’Neale, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics Updates
The Celtics have their primary creators. All they’re doing here is adding a low-usage role player who should make their team better. If they can get their hands on O’Neale, the rest of the league should be (even more) afraid.
