The Boston Celtics are missing some major pieces while they make a run into the Eastern Conference Finals, as the absences of Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving have constantly been mentioned throughout the playoffs.
The emergence of a solid rotation in Boston has proven those that thought the Celtics would be doomed without their pair of All-Stars wrong. But their success this year has been about much more than the Celtics’ stars, which could make it tough for them to go out and acquire one of the most interesting players to potentially the market: Kawhi Leonard.
Zach Lowe broke down for ESPN what’s made the Celtics so good this postseason, and a lot of it has to do with their versatility on defense and their ability to get big games out of Terry Rozier and Marcus Smart. It’s fascinating to see how the team has meshed together to overcome huge presences like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, and the way they’ve done that makes Lowe hesitant to think a trade for Leonard to Boston this summer is coming.
Lowe’s argument here is simple: Boston will always try to improve their roster in the offseason, as it did by swapping Isaiah Thomas for Irving last summer. But the financial situation this time around is very different, as is the fact that there are concern about the health of Leonard’s hamstring. Add in that there’s no guarantee Leonard would sign an extension with the Celtics and this could, potentially, be too risky for Ainge to do.
Boston still struggles getting to the rim and finishing there. There will be droughts in which the Celtics feel the void left by Irving and Hayward. They will hunt talent upgrades in the offseason, like they always do. (Note to San Antonio Spurs fans pitching Kawhi Leonard deals involving Tatum and lots of other stuff: It’s not clear Boston would do Tatum for Leonard straight up without getting a clean bill of health for Leonard and an assurance he re-signs. Tatum is on a rookie deal for three more seasons. A max deal for Leonard would make it hard to keep guys like Smart and Rozier, even for the short term.)
Unlike with Thomas, who was looking for a max deal of his own this summer, a trade for Leonard would complicate Boston’s ability to keep players they’ve found to be invaluable this season. Danny Ainge has made tough decisions like this before, but the cost for a star that might not have a clean bill of health and could leave after next season would certainly be considerable.
