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Boston Celtics: 3 reasons for optimism after first month of the season

By Rudi Richards

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 23: Jayson Tatum #0 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics celebrate after scoring against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at TD Garden on December 23, 2020 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 Brian Fluharty-Pool/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 23: Jayson Tatum #0 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics celebrate after scoring against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at TD Garden on December 23, 2020 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 Brian Fluharty-Pool/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /

2. The trade exception

There’s no doubt that this Boston Celtics team is rich in talent. The team’s in a great spot right now and for the future with the pieces, they have, specifically their superstar duo. However, there are plenty of other teams with win-now abilities.

The Western Conference has been considered the most stacked conference for years now, but with so many players switching to the east, it’s not going to get easier any time soon for the Celtics. They’ll be there or thereabouts come the playoffs, and this team’s floor should be the conference semi-finals, but, for a team that’s made the conference finals on three out of the last four occasions, they should be aiming much higher.

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Recently, it’s always felt like the Celtics are one piece away from really challenging for the title. They have the abilities to challenge already, but, with one more legitimate addition to this roster, a title challenge wouldn’t be too far of a stretch. The Celtics acquired a trade exception from the deal that saw them send Gordon Hayward to Charlotte, and this could come in handy later as the season progresses.

This trade exception is the biggest in league history at $28.5 million and there are many game-changers that the Celtics could target with it. Whether that would be to add guard or wing depth or to get someone who can really help them in the paint, there are plenty of options for the Celtics to get stronger.

NBC Sports Boston wrote an article on players the Celtics could target with this exception. Every player on this list brings something to the table that the Celtics are missing, be it guard play, scoring, or defense. Even though it seems like a long-shot, John Collins stands out to me. Whilst the Celtics have a number of big men, they don’t have one stand-alone player at that spot. Collins hasn’t had the best start to this season, but last year he was a force for the Hawks, as he averaged 21.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.

He’s a good defender who will get even better, and he has the versatility to play in all sorts of lineups. Collins is still just 23 years old and would fit on Brown and Tatum’s timeline. He’d bring a meaningful presence to the Celtics frontcourt, and having him and Tristan Thompson would bolster the Celtics on the boards, as they continue to have troubles there.

Whatever the Celtics decide they want to go for, before the March 25 trade deadline, there’re plenty of guys to go and get to make a real difference to this team. It’s been a rocky start to the season, but there’s still plenty to like about this team. Having this significant trade exception gives Ainge and the Celtics the power to make a serious move as they try and make a run once more.

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