While the Boston Celtics may be playing well at the moment, it will take time before fans and analysts believe the change is real and permanent. If their play starts to go south again, inducing panic perhaps in the team’s front office, there are, of course, plenty of people offering potential trade ideas to remedy the situation.
One such author is Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz, who put together a deal he thinks would help not only the Celtics but also the Atlanta Hawks, who are suffering from issues similar to Boston: a young roster battling inconsistency.
The deal in question? Sending veteran guard Marcus Smart and recent arrival Josh Richardson to Atlanta in exchange for Hawks big man John Collins.
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“The Celtics and Hawks have both underachieved this season, yet they could help each other address weaknesses,” writes Swartz.
“Boston desperately needs shooting (34.0% from 3, 22nd overall), while Atlanta (113.4 defensive rating, 27th overall) could use anyone who can get stops. A Collins-Smart-based package makes too much sense for both teams.”
The B/R analyst continued to make his case for the deal, citing fit on both sides as a primary logic.
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“Collins would slide into the starting power forward role between Jayson Tatum and Robert Williams III and is eighth overall in three-point shooting (42.6%) this season,” explains Swartz.
“He’s giving the Hawks 17.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game and is in the first season of a five-year, $125 million deal. The Hawks get Smart to put in the backcourt next to Trae Young, giving them a tandem on opposite sides of the defensive spectrum. Smart is still an elite on-ball defender when he wants to be, and his playmaking ability would allow Young to play off-ball more and spot up from 3. Atlanta also acquires Richardson, a good defensive wing who’s hitting 39.8% of his 3s this season.”
A Hawks starting lineup of Young, Smart, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter and Clint Capela suddenly looks pretty good defensively, especially with Richardson coming off the bench,” adds the B/R writer.
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While we think the deal close to a fair one in terms of talent being exchanged, we would think a late first-round draft pick would be needed to sell the Hawks on such a deal.
As for Boston, the move seemingly would signal throwing in the towel on this season, a prospect fans are likely to have little appetite for.
Such a deal might well end up happening regardless of how fans felt about it if the front office believed it was in the best interest of the ball club, but we have our doubts that this trade or one close to it is in the offing any time soon given this move would make more sense in the offseason.
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
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