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Boston Celtics: Should they make a run at Bradley Beal?

By Daniel Lubofsky

BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 25: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards brings the ball up court during the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on December 25, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 25: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards brings the ball up court during the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on December 25, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
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With so much to offer and surprising room for improvement, maybe the Boston Celtics should go make a run for Bradley Beal.

After so many had predicted an automatic run to the NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics have begun the 2018-19 season struggling to find a rhythm, going just 11-10 through roughly the first quarter of the NBA season.

Following last season’s unexpected playoff run, it was assumed that with the return of All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, coupled with the internal development of guys like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Boston would be a two-way terror that could possibly challenge the Golden State Warriors for the NBA title.

While the C’s have managed to maintain a terrific effort on the defensive end — they rank in the top five in opponent points per game, 3-point percentage and defensive rating — the same can’t be said about their output on offense, placing in the bottom-third in offensive rating, points per game, field goal percentage and both made and attempted free throws.

A fixture for what ails the Celtics might not seem as easy as the roster makeup would suggest. Yes, the team is loaded with talent, perhaps the most in the league top to bottom, but truthfully, that seems to be the problem. Too many guys need the ball in their hands with not enough touches to go around.

Maybe Boston would be better off shipping away some of its players in order to clear up more shots for others, while at the same time bringing aboard someone who’s accustomed to playing off the ball.

About a week ago, ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that after a slow start of their own, the Washington Wizards could possibly clean house, with nobody safe in potential trade talks, including shooting guard Bradley Beal.

Beal has become one of the best 2-guards in the game, a deadeye shooter who can put the ball on the floor and create something out of nothing.

At 22.1 points per game on the season, the one-time All-Star has a knack for scoring, but after playing next to John Wall for the entirety of his seven-year career, Beal has grown accustomed to simply spacing the court.

Just about every NBA season, the Celtics are linked to the stars who find themselves on the trade block for one reason or another. After accumulating a treasure chest of assets, general manager Danny Ainge has coupled the resources to go after just about anybody he wants, so why not the disgruntled Wizard?

Washington is looking to get a fresh start, and the C’s could have the right amount of talent mixed with draft picks to entice them enough to pull the trigger. Or, the Wizards might want to simply acquire expiring contracts as a way to rid themselves of the remaining two years and $55 million left on Beal’s contract after this season.

From Boston’s perspective, Beal would give Brad Stevens a prototypical shooting guard, something the team doesn’t really possess at the moment.

Though he’s only shooting 33.8 percent from deep so far this season, Beal would help improve on the Celtics’ 18th-best 3-point percentage and could help ease the burden of Kyrie Irving as a proven go-to scorer in both the regular season and postseason — something a guy like Tatum hasn’t proven he can do consistently at a high level.

Although it may seem counterintuitive as well, acquiring Beal would also likely shore up the rotation for Boston, an issue that seems to be its biggest at the moment. No complaints have been reported, but it appears evident that Stevens is having a tough time dolling out minutes in an attempt to maximize the talent at his disposal.

As with almost any star-driven deal, what it comes down to for the Cs is how much they’d have to give up. Clearing up the rotation seems like a good idea, but that shouldn’t entail giving up half the roster.

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Bringing in a score-first guy like Bradley Beal is a high-risk move for a team already struggling to keep everyone happy. But if Danny Ainge opens up a few more minutes for everyone and Stevens can get him to commit to the cause, Beal could be just what the Celtics need in order to get them to where we all thought they’d be.

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