In a hypothetical trade scenario put forth by NBA Analysis Network, the Boston Celtics’ most effective playoff destroyer from the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals, Caleb Martin, would transfer from their bitter rival Miami to the Cs.
Malcolm Brogdon, the current Sixth Man of the Year, would also be acquired by the Heat in exchange, and Boston’s cap space would receive the $57 million left on Duncan Robinson’s contract.
James Piercey of NBA Analysis Network believes that the Celtics would acquire two important rotational additions from the deal.
Piercey introduced Martin as a particularly valuable addition to the team before adding, “In some ways, he can replace the recently lost Grant Williams.
With a few more shots to spare, he can offer a similar set of 3-and-D skills.
He’ll fit right in with this group and improve them.
Actually, Robinson ought to be included in this rotation.
He is a shooting specialist with some other limitations, but he would likely be the best shooter on this roster.
The Celtics might be happy to release Brogdon from his contract if he does have injury concerns, even though doing so was never Plan A.
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Compared to Duncan Robinson, Caleb Martin is the Boston Celtics’ ideal acquisition.
Finding cheap players who could play a positionless brand of basketball is a key objective for the Boston Celtics given the salary cap’s rising trend and the fact that Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, and Derrick White have amassed over $100 million in cap space alone.
Martin is now present. No player in the league is capable of scoring in a manner that can change the course of a game at the level Martin is paying, and no one has ever done so on a stage comparable to the one Martin used in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals.
In the seven-game series, Martin had 19 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists, and he and Jimmy Butler each scored 26 and 28 in Game 7.
Martin was a strong candidate for series MVP.
Robinson, on the other hand, is not the kind of acquisition that the Celtics front office ought to be looking for.
But if it means getting Martin, it’s a bitter pill to swallow, especially since Robinson might end up actually filling Sam Hauser’s current position as a contributor.