Written by AJ Neuharth-Keusch at USAToday.com
The Boston Celtics are at a bit of a crossroads.
Not only are they in the Eastern Conference finals as the No. 1 seed, but they also just landed the No. 1 overall pick in June’s draft thanks to a 2013 trade with the Brooklyn Nets that’s still paying dividends. The only problem? It appears, especially after Wednesday night’s Game 1 rout, that they don’t have nearly enough to get past LeBron James and the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers. Not this year, and judging by James’ continued dominance, probably not next year, either.
This dilemma, albeit a good one to have, begs the question: Should the Celtics hold on to the pick (likely Washington’s Markelle Fultz) and continue to build for the future, or should they take a more win-now approach and move the pick for an All-Star wing such as the Indiana Pacers’ Paul George or the Chicago Bulls’ Jimmy Butler?
If it were up to Paul Pierce — the Celtics legend who just completed a 19-year Hall of Fame career — Boston would go with the latter.
“You trade this pick, because he cannot help the Celtics get over the top,” Pierce said while making an appearance on ESPN’s The Jump on Wednesday. “The window is now. … You’re a 50-win team, you’re the No. 1 seed. You have to build on this momentum. If you can acquire a Paul George, a Jimmy Butler or a Gordon (Hayward) from Utah, you have to do it.”
George and Butler — whose names have been tossed around on the Celtics trade front for some time — are under contract with their respective teams. Butler has two years left until he can become a free agent, while George, who has expressed interest in joining his hometown Los Angeles Lakers, can opt out his contract after the 2017-18 season.
Hayward — who played college ball under Celtics coach Brad Stevens at Butler — can opt out of his contract and test the unrestricted free agency waters this summer.
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