Why the Trade Benefits the Boston Celtics
The benefit for the Boston Celtics in this trade would be simple. They would be acquiring the best player in the deal. Despite trading Jaylen Brown, they would improve immensely at the shooting guard position. James Harden is a difference-maker on the offensive end and could be the piece that takes Boston to the next level.
Before we continue on Harden, PJ Tucker would also help the Celtics immediately. They are a team that could use a marksman from deep. Tucker has turned into an elite three-point threat in the league. Some might shy away from a deal to acquire Harden because of his style of play that dominates the ball.
This might not seem quite as attractive to a team that has a budding superstar in Jayson Tatum. If the two ever developed chemistry and learned how to play together, it would be dangerous. With Brad Stevens on the sidelines, this is a legitimate possibility. He is a great coach who knows how to develop schemes and make adjustments in-game.
This is not a move that Danny Ainge would make unless he was sure that it would workout in his team’s favor. When looking into the future, it is hard to imagine that a deal such as this one would workout poorly for Boston. It would certainly shake up the Eastern Conference right away.