Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics Receive: F/C Myles Turner

Indiana Pacers Receive: C Daniel Theis, G/F Romeo Langford, F Grant Williams, BOS 2021 1st Round Pick, OKC 2021 2nd Round pick (via BOS), BOS 2024 1st Round Pick (Top-10 Protected)

The Boston Celtics need a reliable big man and the Indiana Pacers could use more overall depth and future assets on their roster, which is why this trade makes sense for both sides. The Celtics finally get the reliable big man they have been wanting for years now, making them a legit championship contender and Indiana gets assets to continue building for the future. 

If T.J. Warren and Caris LeVert are unable to come back this season for the Pacers to make a deep playoff push, then they will likely be a team that does not make it far if they even make the playoffs. 

As a result, building for the future and gaining future assets now may not be that bad of an idea and this trade scenario with the Celtics certainly would help. The Pacers are set to payout $120.2M in salaries next season, already putting them above the salary cap and not giving them any “wiggle room” to go out in free agency and bring in more high-level talents. 

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With Warren and LeVert expected to be out no longer than this season, it makes a ton of sense for the Pacers to trade for young players with potential like those the Celtics could offer in order to add key rotational guys for them moving forward. Daniel Theis could definitely give them solid minutes at the center position and both Langford and Williams are two guys that have a solid amount of potential to be key rotational players. 

Romeo Langford has not been able to stay healthy over the years with the Celtics due to a wrist injury, but him going back to his home-state in Indiana could be very beneficial for him and his young career. Grant Williams is a really solid young forward that does not have much of an upside, but you know what you are going to get from him defensively. 

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The best aspect of this trade scenario with the Celtics for the Pacers is the first-round draft compensation they get over the years. One of the picks in 2021 is OKC’s second-round pick, but it is expected to be one of the first picks of the second-round, basically making it have the same value as a late first-round pick. 

Losing Myles Turner to the Celtics will impact the Pacers defensively and possibly lessen their chances to make some noise in the playoffs this year, but down the road, this team has a lot of potential to be something special. All they need is to continue building for the future and surrounding their stars with solid role players, which is what this trade allows them to do.