Still digesting a bit the news of last night. In general I like it, the sentimental part with losing Smart is tough, everyone will wish him nothing but the best, what a great guy.
That being said. Getting a more balanced roster + 2 FRP is a great 'haul'. Also the upside with KP is bigger, ofcourse there are big risks but there are few durable players anymore to be frank...
With getting assets back we have a bit more ammo to make this team even stronger right?
What do we have left:
First Round Draft picks:
2023: 25th pick
2024: BOS pick + GSW pick (top 4 protected).
Our own will probably be between 24-30, GSW potentially t0o but there is a world this is a lottery pick if all goes bad with Draymond + injuries.
2025: BOS pick
2026: BOS pick
2027: BOS pick
2028: The worst pick of BOS/SAS - pick swap as part of D-White trade
2029: BOS - can this pick be traded yet?
Basically 8 draft picks (one swap) in 7 years, not bad for a contender.
Players:
After the trade we have little tradeable assets left:
- Brogdon is still a big contract which is movable depending on his injury status.
- Payton Pritchard
- Sam Hauser (not really an asset right - or will he become Max Strus at the Miami Heat)
- JD Davison (i guess still can be seen as some what of an asset?)
- Grant Williams - i kind of expect him to leave, unless Celtics really want to pay. That being said, how important was he in 2023? Not really to be honest, mostly out of the rotation.
It's not a lot and if you need to get to a bigger number it would certainly involve Brogdon and potentially even Horford/RWIII.
Normally contenders now get better with getting rid of the picks for rotational pieces but this will be hard due to the salary matching. We have a lot of expensive guys on the roster and we kind of also need some cheap ones. Hence will the celtics really trade more or use their picks to get young players and pray they will add to the team, e.g. like Braun did for Denver.
Or will the C's make another splash... Lillard... no right?
Very interesting day ahead!!