Boston Celtics: 10 Potential Star Trade Targets
10. Tyson Chandler
Tyson Chandler isn’t exactly a “star,” but because he’d address some of Boston’s blatant needs, we couldn’t leave him out of the top 10.
Though Al Horford has been a terrific addition to the No. 2 team in the Eastern Conference, he’s a historically underwhelming rebounder and at age 30, his rim protection (1.7 blocks per game) won’t last for too much longer.
With Horford being able to spread the floor and play such versatile defense, the Celtics could really use a rim-protector and prolific rebounder to play the 5 — especially since they rank 28th in rebounds per game, 26th in rebounding percentage and 21st in blocks per game.
Enter Tyson Chandler, a veteran the Phoenix Suns should be trying to move at the deadline to aid the youth movement by bringing in additional draft picks and paving the way for Alex Len (who will be a restricted free agent this summer and is an enigma at this point).
Chandler may be 34 years old, and the remaining two years on his contract after this season seem like a lot to take on, but the former Defensive Player of the Year hasn’t fallen off. He’s not much of a shot-blocker anymore, but he’s still averaging a respectable 8.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game on 67.8 percent shooting.
Boston Celtics
Tyson ranks seventh in the league in rebounding and is still a great anchor on the defensive end. If Amir Johnson and a future first round pick are all it takes to pry him from Phoenix, Chandler represents one solid (albeit less sexy) option to at least consider.
The 2017 and 2018 first-rounders Boston will receive from the Brooklyn Nets are far too valuable for a 34-year-old, but Ainge could offer one of the Celtics’ own first-rounders in the near future. Aside from those valuable Nets picks, this team doesn’t need any additional rookies to worry about on a crammed roster that’s trying to contend now.
Johnson could play the mentor role for young power forwards Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender, and since he’s a free agent this summer, the Suns could let him walk and not worry about him taking too many minutes from the youngsters.
The problem is there are more enticing stars the Celtics could snag with their collection of assets, and Ainge might not feel like Chandler is worth a first-round pick, even if it’s not one of the Nets picks.