How the Boston Celtics Blocked Their Blessings
In an offseason of huge free agent signings, the Boston Celtics may have made one costly wrong turn on the road to the Larry O’Brien trophy.
As I’m sure hundreds before me have written in the past couple of years, it’s a very weird time to be near the top of the NBA. The 2016–2017 season ended in the third Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers finals matchup in as many years and as I write this, many would say we’re probably due for a fourth. While Golden State is blessed to have Kevin Durant live up to his nickname “The Servant”, taking less than the max in hopes of keeping the squad together, the Cavs aren’t having the same luck. Cleveland parted ways with GM David Griffin with no replacement ready to fill the position, LeBron James is speaking of LA more affectionately than Tupac, and most shockingly, Kyrie Irving was gleefully scooped up by the Boston Celtics like Debra Winger.
The Cavs are looking vulnerable and this may be the first year since the 2010 playoffs that a LeBron helmed team doesn’t win the Eastern Conference. Now if this is the case, the team most likely to take that spot is last years first seed Celtics. They took the Cavs to five games in the ECF last year, and now they’ve got scoring machine/lil Blood Kyrie Irving (Washington Wizards John Wall being the big Blood, catch up guys) and the undisputed best white guy in the league Gordon Hayward. However they still made, in my opinion, the dumbest move of the entire NBA offseason: trading Avery Bradley.
Bradley is arguably the best guard defender in the NBA. There’s no two ways about it, the man is an absolute bloodhound on D. When Bradley was left off of both All Defensive teams this year, the very players Bradley put the clamps on time and again were outraged at the snub. I’m not saying we should solely listen to the players when it comes to these matters, but when you’ve got this kind of push back from a guy’s opponents, you’ve gotta wonder if the wrong choice was made.
You may be thinking “Ok the guy’s a dog on defense but I think you’re making too big of a deal about this.” and that’s where you’re wrong. The Boston Celtics are one of a handful of teams in the NBA who are trying to win now and are much closer to having the tools to do so than most. When talking about winning these days, no conversation can be had without “But can they beat the Warriors?” being the final question. Last years Celtics team wouldn’t have stood a chance against the Warriors in the Finals so it’s understandable why they felt the need to shake things up, but I don’t feel hyperbolic when I say Bradley is literally the last guy I would’ve taken off the team. Every team in the East is knows that if they make it out of their conference on top, the Warriors are who they’re playing for the chip. So wouldn’t you want the guy who gives the Splash Brothers hell on your team?
On March 8th 2017, Boston played at Golden State and held them to a season low 86 points. Thompson and Curry scored 25 and 23 respectively, but it’s important to note that for the majority of the game, one of the two all time great shooters was guarded by one of the worst defenders in the history of roundball, Isaiah Thomas. Possession after possession, Bradley forced his man to pass, denied lanes, and was in his guys pocket like lint. Now that you’ve traded Thomas for an almost as bad defender in Kyrie Irving, wouldn’t it be just as imperative to keep Bradley to even the scales?
“Well hey, he’s a good player but I’m sure they got someone else great in return right?”
ONE WOULD THINK.
Instead the Celtics traded Bradley and a 2019 2nd round draft pick for the Detroit Piston’s Marcus Morris. No, not that Morris brother. Yeah, that one.
I want to make it clear that I am risking getting the shit beat out of me for writing this (if so, please donate to my gofundme) but it must be said: Marcus David Morris ain’t that good. He averaged 14 points and 4 rebounds per game in his last season with Detroit, he’s 2 years older than Bradley, he probably won’t solve Boston’s inability to grab boards, and he’s owed only $3M less. Also: why are you giving up a pick? I know Boston’s swimming in them and it’s only a 2nd rounder but still, I’d need Detroit’s next 1st rounder to even consider this trade.
In a season of world class finesses and distasteful gestures, Boston simply got fleeced in a trade that was absolutely unnecessary and may very well set the team back in the post season. Avery, if you’re reading this, I extend an invitation to the Dallas Mavericks once you’re a free agent. When you show up to camp just tell them I sent you. They will say “Who?” but then they will realize you’re a great defender and hopefully not trade you for a Morris twin.
