The Boston Celtics may have exceeded expectations with a 56-win season and the second seed in the East, but the organization is not satisfied with where they are.
Just two seasons removed from a championship, President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens indicated during his end of season press conference that big changes were coming for the Celtics. With Jayson Tatum entering the prime of his career, the priority is maximizing the roster and competing for championships.
Which is why it has come as no surprise to see Boston poking around the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Trey Murphy, Rudy Gobert, and others on the trade market. The Celtics’ roster will look very different come opening night. However, there is one target out there that could complete their wing depth and give them more youth.
Boston should have free agent forward Peyton Watson near the top of their list of targets
Watson had a career year this season, averaging 15 points per game, five rebounds, and two assists on 49 percent shooting and 41 percent from three-point range. He was a huge reason why the Denver Nuggets were able to stay afloat during the absence of Nikola Jokic during the regular season.
Watson was plagued by hamstring injuries toward the end of the season and it cost him the entire playoffs, but he showed tremendous upside as a wing player. He has always been a strong defender, thanks to his length, speed, and size, making him the perfect compliment to Tatum and Jaylen Brown,
Watson would be an ideal fit for the Celtics, allowing them to shift Brown back to the two and allow Tatum to continue playing the four. It gives Boston more positional size and more lineup flexibility.
Acquiring Watson would come at a price, as he is expected to command heavy interest in free agency. The Celtics do have draft capital and contracts to dangle, so they would have enough to interest the Nuggets, who are also looking to retool their roster. Maybe there's an avenue where Boston could acquire Watson and Murphy/Gobert in separate deals. Nothing is impossible in today's NBA.
The Celtics know that they need more to get back to competing for championships and given the fact that the Knicks won the title because of their wing depth, they would be wise to follow that blueprint. Tatum and Brown is a great start. Now, it is about building around them and Watson could be a vital piece to that puzzle. His youth and two-way versatility make him great fits for Joe Mazzulla’s system.
