2. Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics shouldn’t give up Jae Crowder. Rudy Gay may be a superior talent, but Crowder’s defensive tenacity, offensive versatility, and overall toughness is a major part of Boston’s identity as a team.
Having established that, Gay would be an excellent addition to a Celtics team that lacks a reliable scoring threat along the wings.
Boston falls short of No. 1 due to the fact that Crowder is already one of the better two-way players at small forward. Furthermore, landing Gay may not be enough to become a championship contender, even with Al Horford on the team.
True as that all may be, the Celtics would have a genuine trio of All-Star level players in Gay (borderline), Horford (four times), and Isaiah Thomas (once).
Furthermore, a perimeter of Thomas, Gay, and Avery Bradley would rank amongst the best in the Eastern Conference. Overall, the roster would give Boston a legitimate opportunity to win 50-plus games and compete for the Conference Finals.
The familiarity between Gay and Thomas only adds to the appeal of a potential Gay-to-Boston trade.
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