Boston Celtics: Anthony Davis
The Eastern Conference leading Boston Celtics are exceeding even the most optimistic of predictions for this season when Gordon Hayward was lost ten minutes into the season. They are exceptionally well coached, play incredibly sound defense and have an abundance of youth and talent that would even make GSW envious.
They have savvy veterans that have been able to stabilize and spur the team on. But even with all that said, we still can’t be confident in what they will do in the playoffs, especially against the top teams. While Kyrie is fantastic, the Celtics still lack that clear number one guy who can get you a bucket during the playoffs with sheer physical will.
These same problems haunted them against the Cavs last year when they were down by FIFTY points in game two of the conference finals. The current formula that they employ is play sound defense and function within a conservative system on offense that relies on precision and low risk tactics. It is a fundamentally sound strategy, but one that doesn’t bode well in the playoffs.
To win in the playoffs in this era, you need superstars who are capable of scoring in isolation during crunch time. Yes, Kyrie can score with the best of them, but defenses can body him up due to his slender frame–similar to the what the Cavs did to Curry during the 2016 Finals. Adding Anthony Davis would change all of that, even if it comes at the expense of Tatum, Brown, draft picks, and whoever else it would require for salaries to work – ideally excluding Mr. Irving.
A duo of Kyrie and AD, coupled with Gordon Hayward and/or Al Horford would be immediate title contenders. That would make the Celtics the favorites in the East, even over LeBron and the Cavs and at least challenge the Warriors. Trading for Anthony Davis would be the best short term and long term strategy for the Celtics.