The Golden State Warriors have been preparing their roster for a post-Stephen Curry era. Tim Kawakami, of the San Francisco Standard, said on his podcast that Golden State’s owner Joe Lacob wants to “build the next team after Steph Curry.”
If the Warriors do move on from Curry, the Boston Celtics should take advantage.
Why The Boston Celtics Should Make A Trade
The Eastern Conference has gotten much stronger during the offseason. The New York Knicks are reigning NBA Champions and have replaced their only rotational departure, Mitchell Robinson, with Andre Drummond.
The Miami Heat made a big splash, trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo and pairing him with Bam Adebayo for an elite frontcourt duo. As long as the trade stands, Kawhi Leonard will be returning to Toronto, as the Raptors will aim to repeat the success they found the last time he was on the roster.
Boston’s rivals, the Philadelphia 76ers, also made a blockbuster move, acquiring Jaylen Brown for a lackluster return. This move stings for Celtics fans since Brown is coming off the best season of his career, and will now get to help LeBron James & Co. in Philadelphia.
Boston made some smaller moves in the offseason, signing Robinson from New York and Mike Conley Jr. during free agency, and receiving Paul George in the Brown trade. Chris Cenac Jr., their first-round pick, has looked good during the Summer League. None of these moves are in the same ballpark as what the top Eastern Conference teams did, though.
If the Celtics want to truly be competitive this year, a trade is necessary. Jayson Tatum is going to need a running mate with Brown gone, and 36-year-old George can’t be relied on to fill that role.
The lineup of Tatum, George, Robinson, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard is above-average and could make the playoffs as a middling seed. Boston doesn’t have the talent to match up with super teams like the 76ers, Heat, and Knicks, though.
Why The Celtics Should Trade For Curry
Curry is a four-time NBA Champion, two-time MVP, and a Finals MVP. He’s arguably the greatest point guard of all time, and is undoubtedly the best shooter on the planet. He may be 38, but he’s coming off a season where he averaged 26.6 points per game and shot 39% from three-point range.
Boston’s head coach Joe Mazzulla runs the offense around three-point shooting. His team has ranked in the top three of three-point attempts every year since he was named the head coach in 2023. Who better to add than the greatest shooter in NBA history?
Tatum is one of the best in the league with the ball in his hands, which always conflicted with Brown because he is also a ball-dominant player. The best aspect of Curry’s game is his ability to work off the ball, get open, and make contested shots. In theory, it would be a perfect match when playing alongside Tatum on the offensive end.
Golden State’s point guard is also an underrated passer. He gets his glory and fame from his shooting and scoring, but last season was the first of his 17-year career in which he didn’t average at least five assists per game. His career average is 6.3.
The Celtics have been missing a true playmaker for years, consistently using combo guards or players who are better suited on the wing. Curry is elite at running an offense without having to be the main option, and would excel at finding Tatum better shots, while also creating his own with or without the ball.
What Would It Cost?
Jared Karalis, a Boston reporter for Sports Illustrated, sketched up a package that included Paul George, Sam Hauser, and the two first-round picks acquired in the Brown trade. With George’s involvement, the two teams would have to wait until Sep. 6 because George’s salary can’t be aggregated with anyone’s for 60 days after the trade. Pritchard may have to be added or replace Hauser if Golden State has a slightly higher value of Curry than Karalis perceives.
Giving up two starters for Curry is a cost that the Celtics must be willing to pay if they want to be competitive in a revamped Eastern Conference. He is well worth it, and would be an electric fit in Boston.
In the Warriors’ eyes, they’d be receiving two players who can contribute right away in George and Hauser/Pritchard, in addition to two first-round picks. Curry only has one year left on his contract, and Golden State gives him a Kobe Bryant-esque final season, allowing the fans a proper farewell. If ownership and management are serious about building for the future, acquiring as much as they can for an aging superstar-level player is a smart move.
