If Boston Celtics lose, the New Orleans Pelicans should look for trade
The bickering Boston Celtics could provide an opening for the New Orleans Pelicans.
The New Orleans Pelicans might be able to take advantage of the bad blood that is starting to boil over in Boston.
The favored Celtics are down 2-0 to the Miami Heat and there have been reports of fighting in the locker room between Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown.
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This is not unusual, as teammates often argue and it certainly doesn’t mean the Celtics are going to break up their team. Danny Ainge has faith in his coach and his system, but failing to make the Finals in a year that the Bucks were eliminated may force Ainge to change course.
The Celtics have a lot of nice players who would fit on the New Orleans Pelicans, especially if the Pels were willing to move on from Jrue Holiday.
If Boston feels a shake-up is necessary, the Pelicans might be a logical choice as a trade partner.
New Orleans Pelicans: Trading Jrue Holiday for a package based around Marcus Smart makes sense.
If the Pelicans could trade Jrue Holiday to the Celtics, they might be able to get a package of players that would balance the roster and fill some holes.
Marcus Smart is the most likely candidate, though he is a fan-favorite and currently the heart and soul of the Celtics, similar to Jrue Holiday for the Pelicans.
Holiday is the better player, but Smart is a better defender. The money doesn’t line up, so the Celtics would have to add another couple of contracts to make it work.
If the Pelicans could get Marcus Smart and another contributor for Jrue Holiday they’d have to consider it, as it would allow them to get younger, bolster their defense and potentially clear a ton of cap space.
Even if the blockbuster trade isn’t there, the Pelicans should stay vigilant when it comes to the Boston Celtics and see if they might be able to poach one of their guys if things fall apart.
If the Celtics decide that their current ceiling is “Eastern Conference Finals,” then they might put some valuable parts up for sale.
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