3 Outside-the-Box Trade Ideas for the Celtics

These guys are or have not been in Celtics rumors over the past six months, and frankly the last one is probably going to blow your mind. I'm not giving it away with the cover either, but according to the NBA trade machine website, all of these trades work. All of these players will be under contract for at least next season as well.

3) Milwaukee trades F Jabari Parker, G Matthew Dellavedova and the #17 overall selection in the 2017 draft for Terry Rozier and the Nets' pick in 2018; Boston then sends Dellavedova to Sacramento for a second round pick in 2018 and 2022

Sure, this won't help Boston too much in 2017, but it will allow them to add both a scoring wing who has Paul Pierce qualities in Jabari Parker, keep the #1 pick, gain a first round pick, and a few more second rounders. The only caveats here is Jabari Parker's knee (which is why he is only worth Rozier and the 2018 Nets pick) and the Bucks hoping that Brooklyn doesn't win much more than this season and that they can get a top four pick next year. As far as Dellavedova goes, the Kings need a point guard, and the Celtics won't with the three they have to go with Markelle Fultz. Sure, it doesn't improve Boston's standings that much right away, but it's a future move that could allow them to keep trending upwards.

2) Oklahoma City trades Russell Westbrook and Steven Adams to Boston for PG Isaiah Thomas, PG Terry Rozier, SF Jaylen Brown, C Tyler Zeller and both the 2017 and 2018 first round picks (including this year's number one overall) from the Brooklyn Nets. Add in second rounders (potentially) to sweeten the deal.

Russell won't want to stay in Oklahoma City for too much longer, and this gives Boston a chance to improve while not having to give up too much of what they already have. Westbrook gives Boston a legitimate scoring threat who is taller than Isaiah Thomas, and gives them another big body to play defense and spell Al Horford when needed. Adams' super large contract is a big reason why the Celtics don't have to give up even more, plus Isaiah Thomas isn't that much worse than Westbrook as far as scoring goes. Oklahoma City jump-starts the rebuild.

1) New Orleans trades both PF Anthony Davis and C DeMarcus Cousins to Boston for Al Horford, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and as many draft picks as it takes (excluding the number one overall this year). Boston then trades the number one and Jae Crowder (maybe Terry Rozier too) to Chicago for Jimmy Butler or to Indiana for Paul George.

Want a team that can stop LeBron James in the East? This is how you do it. Anthony Davis is probably worth that haul by himself in New Orlean's case, but they throw in Cousins because it's obvious that whatever they are doing isn't working and they need to start a full on rebuild. You get two top five prospects who are ready for big minutes in Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, a borderline All-Star in Al Horford, the 2018 (likely) number one selection, a late 2017 first rounder this year, and probably a few more selections down the road. You become what the Celtics are now, basically.

As far as why this works for Indiana/Chicago, Butler and George clearly aren't capable of winning with the rosters around them, and you can get the number one selection in a strong draft along with an adequate replacement in Jae Crowder. Throw in Terry Rozier, and you have a nice start to a quick rebuild. This will work better with Paul George, because he's been more obvious about wanting to move on.

As for Boston, either George, Butler or Cousins will have to commit long-term for them to complete both of these moves (Davis won't, he has four more years). Re-signing Isaiah Thomas will be important too. This allows Boston to have a starting lineup of Thomas, Avery Bradley, George/Butler, Davis and Cousins. Boston will also have a solid amount of cap room left to get one or two more players plus a mid-level this season.