Boston Celtics Receive: F Julius Randle

New York Knicks Receive: G Marcus Smart, G/F Romeo Langford, F Grant Williams, BOS 2021 1st Round Pick, OKC 2021 2nd Round Pick (via BOS)

While they did sign Tristan Thompson this offseason, the Boston Celtics have long been needing a reliable center in their frontcourt, which is exactly what they would be getting with a guy like Julius Randle. Not only is he only 26-years old, but he is having the best year of his career and on-track to be an All-Star for the first time in his career.

With Kemba Walker finally healthy and both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum looking like All-Stars this season, the Celtics would have 4 All-Star caliber players to contend for a championship this year. 

With the amount of talent at the top of the Eastern Conference, the Celtics will have to make a big move at the NBA trade deadline to keep up with teams like the Bucks, Nets and 76ers. Bringing in Randle gives the Celtics another reliable playmaker and someone to take a lot of the stress off of both Brown and Tatum on the offensive-end of the court.

Marcus Smart has been one of the better perimeter defenders in the entire NBA and has carved out a very important role with the Celtics in their rotations, but if they had the opportunity to acquire Julius Randle, Boston may be willing to part ways with their 26-year old defensive mastermind. 

As would they be willing to part with two young players in Romeo Langford and Grant Williams. Whether it is Grant Williams or another big man like Daniel Theis or Robert Williams, the Celtics would likely be willing to negotiate who to trade, but Grant Williams brings a lot to the table for the Knicks.

He has been very reliable early on in his career in Boston and with the ability to play on the wing or the low-post, he could be a young talent they look to utilize in their frontcourt next to Obi Toppin and Mitchell Robinson. 

Romeo Langford was drafted 14th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft and did not play much during his rookie season due to undergoing surgery to repair the scapholunate ligament in his right wrist. He is expected to miss a couple more months, but definitely possesses a lot of potential. 

Getting some young talent and an established perimeter defender that would fit New York’s system perfectly could be worthwhile if the Knicks were to trade away Julius Randle. Both teams get what they need moving forward, which is why this trade is reasonable. Let’s take a closer look at why this trade benefits both the Knicks and Celtics.