Things have not gone well for the Boston Celtics thus far in the 2021-22 NBA season. They are struggling to find an identity, which has led to some uneven performances.
It is certainly disappointing for the franchise as they have cornerstones in young All-Stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Brown has missed some time with injuries this season, but there should still be enough to keep the team afloat around Tatum. Unfortunately, that has not been the case.
First-time head coach Ime Udoka has been left speechless sometimes seeing the effort that his team provides on a nightly basis. It is extremely inconsistent, as they look like a contender one night and a pretender the next.
There is only so much a coach can do to motivate players. At the end of the day, it is on them to bring the energy and effort to the court. Things could have run their course with this core, but no major moves are coming until they split up the Brown/Tatum pairing.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Could Celtics Look To Trade Jaylen Brown In Near Future?
Until then, some moves could be made on the fringes to upgrade weaknesses on the team. Three players were named trade targets for the Celtics and they all have at least one thing in common; they can shoot the 3-ball.
If the Boston Celtics have enough assets to move, Cam Reddish of the Atlanta Hawks is a worthwhile target. He has been shopped by Atlanta going back to the 2021 NBA Draft and could reportedly be had for a first-round pick. He would help round out the wing rotation with prototypical two-way size and length. His 3-point shot is much improved this season as well, as he carried over the momentum from the playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Another option for Boston is Bryn Forbes. Forbes was a key contributor to the Bucks’ championship run in the 2021 postseason. He returned to the San Antonio Spurs as a free agent this past summer but could be on the move once again. He is one of the deadliest 3-point shooters in the NBA right now.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Could Celtics Look To Trade Jaylen Brown In Near Future?
Last, but not least, is Terrence Ross. Ross is having a tough shooting season, but some of that can be attributed to the situation. He is the last veteran standing after the Orlando Magic traded away three at the deadline last season.
Ross has a good track record as someone that can heat up instantly. He would provide the second unit with a strong scoring punch, combining with Dennis Schroder and Josh Richardson to be one of the most potent scoring bench trios in the NBA.
Boston could build a package around some of their younger players in Aaron Nesmith, Payton Pritchard and Romeo Langford, including a draft pick as well. Juancho Hernangomez could be included to help match salary if need be as well.
