When taking a look at the 2023-24 NBA season for the Boston Celtics, there isn’t much that you can say they did wrong. They have run away with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and have already locked up the best record in the league no matter what happens over the final five days of the regular season.
With three games remaining in their regular season, the Celtics are using this as an opportunity to get their affairs in order before the NBA Playoffs. They have been resting players here and there to ensure they are as close to 100 percent healthy for what they expect to be a deep run in the postseason.
However, even the best teams have a few hiccups along the way. The Celtics have suffered a few head-scratching losses, such as back-to-back defeats at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks recently, which included blowing a 30-point lead.
But, that wasn’t what analysts Bobby Manning and Josue Pavon pinpointed as the one misstep the team made this season. Instead, it was one of the deals Boston completed ahead of the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Delano Banton, Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics Updates
Over the weekend, the Celtics hosted the Portland Trail Blazers, which gave them a chance to see one of their former players, Dalano Banton. Banton was traded to Portland for cash considerations as Boston also received a trade exception. That deal is the one mistake general manager Brad Stevens has made.
A trade like that isn’t going to kill the Celtics, as it was pointed out by the analysts, but it is still a mistake nonetheless. Banton has been playing excellently for the Trail Blazers and that kind of insurance on the wing would have been nice for Boston to have heading into the NBA Playoffs.
With Portland, Banton is averaging 16.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 28.5 minutes per game. He is taking full advantage of the opportunity that was presented to him, while the Celtics have nothing to show for the deal on their end other than some money saved.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
Interested in reading the latest storylines and analysis in the NFL? Check out our partner NFL Analysis Network.
