Boston Celtics Receive: G Terrence Ross
Orlando Magic Receive: G/F Aaron Nesmith, F Grant Williams, POR 2023 2nd Round Pick (via BOS)
With Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, the Boston Celtics are a real threat each and every night in the Eastern Conference, but in order for this team to truly be a contender, they need to add some more secondary scorers to their roster. Both Dennis Schroder and Al Horford have been big-time additions for this team so far, but Boston has not had the best bench over the years.
Last season, the Celtics ranked 28th in the league in bench points and this year, they rank 26th in the league in bench points. Finding another reliable scorer that can take on many different roles for this team is going to be key for them, especially since Boston has various trade exceptions to use.
They have a $5M and a $9.7M trade exception to use, as well as a very large $17M TPE to use stemming from signing-and-trading Evan Fournier to the New York Knicks this offseason. Ross’ $12.5M contract for this season could easily be absorbed using this $17M TPE, which is why the Celtics can make this trade work even though they are a little stuck financially.
With the Magic rebuilding, finding more ways to add versatile, young talents to their roster is key, which is why Grant Williams and Aaron Nesmith could be players they are interested in at the expense of Terrence Ross.
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Williams was drafted 22nd overall in 2019 and while he has struggled to find his footing in the league the last two seasons, he has started the 2021-22 season relatively strong. So far through nine games, he is averaging 7.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and is shooting 44% from three-point range.
As for Nesmith, he has not played much early on in his career, but Boston is high on his potential on the wing. Being a “3-and-D” type of player with the athletic abilities to run in transition, Aaron Nesmith could easily be a contributing factor on a young team like the Magic.
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Orlando is going to be looking to move Terrence Ross this season and looking for the best value around the league is going to be key for them. If they deem Williams, Nesmith, and a second-round pick as fair compensation, they will not hesitate to move the veteran wing.
