Trade Idea: Celtics - Jazz

[slightly biased bias fan]

Celtics: Lauri Markkanen

Jazz: Paul George, 2027 Celtics 1st round pick, 2028 Clippers 1st round pick, 2031 76ers 1st round pick

- - -

Boston Celtics

White
Gonzalez
Tatum
Markkanen
Robinson

Prichard

- - -

Utah Jazz

George
Peterson
George
Jackson Jr
Filipowski

Bailey

[Roy H.]

I know it's not the proper way to look at it, but our net cost would be JB + #1 for LM + two seconds?

I wouldn't do it, because I think our team would only be a marginal contender and we'd have no real future assets.

[jambr380]

I was into a Markkanen trade when we were trading Brown for Lauri and Ace, or Lauri and a high lottery pick (obviously in hindsight that was aiming way too high). I'm not into it if we are giving up Brown plus a 1st just for Lauri.

I get what you're doing, and I think Lauri would be a decent fit on the Celtics, but his injury history is scary. I'd maybe give up George and one non-Clippers 1st. Not sure the team is any better with Lauri than George, but his age is a factor.

[Vermont Green]

I like the thinking, but I don't think it would take that much.  And if it did take that much, I would pass.  Paul George would actually be a really good fit on UTA for a couple of seasons.  But after losing Kessler, UTA probably now holds on to Markkanen.

I see it more as Paul George and 1 first and maybe a second.

[Csfan1984]

If it saves the team $ you know ownership likes your idea.   

[slightly biased bias fan]

I know it's not the proper way to look at it, but our net cost would be JB + #1 for LM + two seconds?

I wouldn't do it, because I think our team would only be a marginal contender and we'd have no real future assets.

Even though I posted the idea, I agree with you.

The problem is that Markkanen is the Celtics only shot at improving the roster with a prime all-star player. Go and look at every NBA roster and try to find an attainable all-star calibre player, other than Markkanen, there are none.

[jambr380]

I know it's not the proper way to look at it, but our net cost would be JB + #1 for LM + two seconds?

I wouldn't do it, because I think our team would only be a marginal contender and we'd have no real future assets.

Even though I posted the idea, I agree with you.

The problem is that Markkanen is the Celtics only shot at improving the roster with a prime all-star player. Go and look at every NBA roster and try to find an attainable all-star calibre player, other than Markkanen, there are none.

If the Celtics were willing to give up 3 1sts (including their 2 best 1sts), then somebody like Trey Murphy would likely be their target over Markkanen. They'd even get another useful (but overpaid) player in the deal to match salary. I'm sure there are guys on Lauri's level who will shake loose.

I hope they wouldn't make another bad deal to compound the bad deal they already made.

[slamtheking]

I know it's not the proper way to look at it, but our net cost would be JB + #1 for LM + two seconds?

I wouldn't do it, because I think our team would only be a marginal contender and we'd have no real future assets.

Even though I posted the idea, I agree with you.

The problem is that Markkanen is the Celtics only shot at improving the roster with a prime all-star player. Go and look at every NBA roster and try to find an attainable all-star calibre player, other than Markkanen, there are none.

If the Celtics were willing to give up 3 1sts (including their 2 best 1sts), then somebody like Trey Murphy would likely be their target over Markkanen. They'd even get another useful (but overpaid) player in the deal to match salary. I'm sure there are guys on Lauri's level who will shake loose.

I hope they wouldn't make another bad deal to compound the bad deal they already made.

exactly.

Markkanen may look like the best player that may be available for a deal but he doesn't really move the needle more than PG and he's certainly not worth the price being suggested here

[Donoghus]

Holy overpay. Hard pass.

[Celtics2021]

If George is traded, it will be next summer.  At that point he will be an expiring and his contract becomes much less bad because it is just a large matching salary.  The Celtics will be above the first apron, so salary aggregation will not be permitted, but George alone can bring back a shade over $62 million, enough to match for anyone we might want except Jokic (the only other players making above $62 million are Tatum, JB, Embiid, and Davis).

This year the hope is just that George will be relatively healthy and useful.  He is overpaid, but he is still capable of being a #3 option and good defender on a playoff team, as we saw in April.  The contract makes him have low trade value, but next year that contract becomes much less of an issue.

[Goldstar88]

If George is traded, it will be next summer.  At that point he will be an expiring and his contract becomes much less bad because it is just a large matching salary.  The Celtics will be above the first apron, so salary aggregation will not be permitted, but George alone can bring back a shade over $62 million, enough to match for anyone we might want except Jokic (the only other players making above $62 million are Tatum, JB, Embiid, and Davis).

This year the hope is just that George will be relatively healthy and useful.  He is overpaid, but he is still capable of being a #3 option and good defender on a playoff team, as we saw in April.  The contract makes him have low trade value, but next year that contract becomes much less of an issue.

Why couldn?t they move him at the trade deadline in Feb? That is only a few months before the regular season ends.

[Celtics2021]

If George is traded, it will be next summer.  At that point he will be an expiring and his contract becomes much less bad because it is just a large matching salary.  The Celtics will be above the first apron, so salary aggregation will not be permitted, but George alone can bring back a shade over $62 million, enough to match for anyone we might want except Jokic (the only other players making above $62 million are Tatum, JB, Embiid, and Davis).

This year the hope is just that George will be relatively healthy and useful.  He is overpaid, but he is still capable of being a #3 option and good defender on a playoff team, as we saw in April.  The contract makes him have low trade value, but next year that contract becomes much less of an issue.

Why couldn?t they move him at the trade deadline in Feb? That is only a few months before the regular season ends.

Because he will have a larger penalty attached to his contract in Feb than in June/July, which means the Celtics have to give more other stuff.  A team that takes on George in Feb is going to have less flexibility than a team who gets him over the summer.  If someone comes on the market at the deadline, teams that offer mostly expirings will have to offer less other compensation than the Celtics would if they traded George.  Now, is it possible that a trade could be made at the deadline?  Sure, if it is Jokic and the Celtics wanted to take a swing.  But that is pretty much it, and they would still have to pay a premium to move George because he is owed more than $56 million next year, which means they will likely not be the winning bidder.

[Vermont Green]

It does not seem like BOS got Paul George just to immediately flip him.  Anything is possible, I am sure PHI never expected they would get Brown for him.  A lot can change by the trade deadline.  If Paul George is healthy and playing like he did in the playoffs, I could see there being some interest.  I don't expect he gets traded, even next off season, but as I said, a lot can change.

[Celtics4ever]

I am ok with our center rotation.   

Lauri Markkanen is soft and a suspect rebounder for his size.  6.9 rebounds for a 7-1 guy playing 30 minutes is not that impressive.  He registered a defensive rating of 123.0 during the 2025?26 NBA season with the Utah Jazz, which is horrible.