Could the James Harden deal open up other trade targets for Boston?
The Boston Celtics may have elected to pass on trading for disgruntled Houston Rockets star James Harden, but that doesn’t mean the deal won’t end up generating potential trade targets for the team.
Sometimes, it makes more sense to build up an already-solid roster around the margins instead of going for the big splash of a trade, and with two young rising stars on the wing in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum locked up for several seasons to come beyond 2020-21, dealing for a star with the baggage and age of Harden probably wasn’t the right move for the Celtics.
But who are some of the players who might be worth pursuing in the wake of the trade? Let’s take a look.
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
At least one prominent basketball mind believes the now-Houston Rocket might be an ideal target for the Celtics, that being NBC Sports Boston's Brian Scalabrine. Pried free from the Indiana Pacers as part of the four-team blockbuster, the only issue with the elite guard is he is on an expiring contract and likely to get a significant raise this offseason no matter where he signs. His two-way play could be an excellent addition to a team in the hunt for a title, however -- the question is whether the Rockets intend to keep the Maryland native, who is putting up 20 points, 5.7 boards and 4.2 assists this season.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
A similar question regarding the Rockets and veteran forward P.J. Tucker can be made as a trade target if Houston is more prone to rebuild than try their hand with their new-look roster. In a competitive roster, the Rockets might be good enough to make the playoffs -- but without making additional moves seem a probable first-round exit. Is that what team owner Tillman Fertita would want? There's no way to know without making a well-timed call closer to the trade deadline, but Tucker could be a helpful target to guard an increasingly deadly Atlantic Division.
Larry Nance
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With the Cleveland Cavaliers now rostering Jarrett Allen, their frontcourt rotations are likely too crowded, and playing time will likely become an issue. Given Boston has a bit of a frontcourt crunch of its own, a third team might need to get involved to make such a deal work for both sides, but Nance might be worth the potential cost. As a reliable (42.2%) and willing (3.8 attempts per game) 3-point shooter putting up 10.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.4 steals per game on a declining deal paying $11.7 million this season, Nance could be a key contributor now -- and an aggregatable salary in a future trade for a star. [jwplayer r1E9Gu2h] [lawrence-related id=45466,45460,45458,45453] [listicle id=45461]
