Boston Celtics: Landing Jerami Grant would be a ridiculously good move

As we approach the NBA’s All-Star break, trade rumors will start to heat up more surrounding the Boston Celtics. We’re almost at the halfway mark of a season where a lot of things are up in the air. Right now, it doesn’t feel like there are many teams who can legitimately challenge for the championship, but that could all look a bit different before the trade deadline on March 25.

One player that’s being linked with the Celtics is the front runner for the Most Improved Player award in Jerami Grant. Shams Charania, of The Athletic, reported the fact that Grant is among the Celtics’ top trade targets (paywall). Grant is a guy who would definitely improve this Celtics team on both ends of the floor. He’s having a career year with the Detroit Pistons, as he averages 23.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.

For the Celtics, it definitely feels like they need to make something happen before that deadline. After a tough start to the year due to keys guys missing time with injuries, the Celtics haven’t had much time to play together as a complete unit. Their top four players have spent a combined time of just 28 minutes together on the floor this season. This has resulted in poor defensive nights and sluggish ball movement on the offensive end. The Celts had a torrid month of February, but have bounced back this last week putting a three-game win streak together at TD Garden.

Kemba Walker is looking much more himself as of late which has given the team a big boost, but this needs to be sustainable to help the Celtics compete with the stronger teams. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum will need to continue to have All-Star seasons, and Marcus Smart returning will be crucial for this team going deeper into the season. Smart should be available after the break, but they have to be careful not to rush him. His importance lies not just on the court, he’ll boost this team in more ways than one.

Outside of the core, there’s plenty of ways to improve this roster. A trade is something that is needed, and we can expect one to be made within the next few weeks. Boston’s traded player exception (TPE) of $28.5 million is yet to be used, so this is something that could really help the Celtics this year. Although the Celts might wait until the summer to use it, there are a number of targets that could help them win now. The team’s payroll also only has $19,784,597 that can be used before the hard cap kicks in so trading for an asset another way could be the way things play out.

Grant’s salary is $19.05 million, so it’s one that would be affordable for the Celtics, but perhaps not one that would warrant the use of the TPE. Tristan Thompson’s $9.258 million deal salary is one that would very likely have to be included to make this deal happen, and then you’ve got pieces like Aaron Nesmith, Romeo Langford, and Grant Williams who you’d include, as well as the draft capital in order to make a viable package. Of course, aside from first-round picks, there is nothing there that the Pistons would give their first-year best player up for. This deal would potentially require numerous first-round picks to get the Pistons’ interest.

A deal to bring Grant to Boston would be a ridiculously good move for Celtics general manager Danny Ainge to make, however unlikely it may be. There are plenty of guys the Celtics could bring in, but Grant is one that is having a special year. It may be for a losing Detroit team, but after leaving Denver where he was way behind in the pecking order, this first-option role has brought his game to the limelight for the casual fan. He’s established himself as an All-Star level player, and leaving that situation in Detroit might not be what he wants right now. Boston has plenty of pull though, and playing with other wing players in Tatum and Brown, and competing for something more would be a great challenge.

This isn’t a deal that anyone should expect to go forward, but, the fact that Grant is a name that is on the Celtics’ shortlist definitely means something. This Celtics front office has a history of going for what they want. They’re going to have to try and make something happen before that deadline. It’s not likely, but there are ways this deal could happen, and giving up a first-rounder or two would be worth it at this point with the squad they have.

The Celtics will play one more before the break, as they host Toronto on Thursday night. But, as of now, they sit at, what seems like a surprising, fourth overall in the Eastern Conference standings. It’s tough to judge the Celts based on the first half of the season with the stuff they’ve been through, but the way they’ve come together this week has been impressive, and definitely shows some positivity going forward.

Obviously, though, to be where the Celtics expect themselves to be – challenging for a championship – changes have to happen. Whether it is Grant or another big-name player, the Celtics need somebody who can change the direction in which this team is heading. This is still a top roster when you look at the core group, adding to that would be huge right now and would provide the Celtics with that boost they need to get back to themselves.