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Rumors indicated that the Boston Celtics were targeting Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson at the NBA trade deadline this past season. The belief is that the discussions were very brief and never truly picked up any steam. Perhaps the Nuggets were looking for much more than the Celtics could provide in return, as Boston quickly moved on and had to “settle” for Isaiah Thomas. Now it appears that Lawson is dreaming of a change of scenery, and Celtics fans should dream of that scene being in the TD Garden.
The Celtics lack a veteran presence amongst their guards. Avery Bradley has the most experience of the bunch with five seasons under his belt, but he is a much better player off the ball. Thomas just completed his fourth season in the league, but his postseason inexperience was evident in the team’s opening round loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The only other real contributor from that group, Marcus Smart, just completed his rookie season. Lawson would instantly become not only the best guard, but the best player on the Celtics.
During the playoffs, when things started to go wrong for the Celtics, their guards wouldn’t always help stop the bleeding. The Cavaliers would turn up their defense and force guys like Thomas and Smart into sloppy turnovers, poor shot selections and overall bad decision making. A guy like Lawson would provide some poise and composure in those situations.
Lawson could also provide much more. Along with his career averages of 15 points and nine assists per game, Lawson provides a great balance of youth and experience at 27 years old. He has appeared in over 20 postseason games and with each appearance, his production has increased. He would assist in the growth and development of Smart as well.
When the Celtics won the NBA Championship back in 2008, they dusted off and signed Sam Cassell. He never put up eye-popping numbers, but that wasn’t his job. The Celtics wanted him for his leadership and experience, because Rajon Rondo was in just his second year in the league. Cassell appeared in every game in the postseason and was a reliable substitution for Doc Rivers. He was also a great locker room guy. Lawson would have a much bigger role than Cassell did, but it shows how just having a veteran presence in the locker room and on the sideline can make a difference.
Now, what will it cost? Do the Celtics even have enough to make a trade for Lawson? The Celtics have a bagful of draft picks, but one has to think that a player the caliber of Lawson would require more than that. The Nuggets would likely want a proven player in return. Do the Celtics have that player? Perhaps Danny Ainge could orchestrate a trade involving a third team. If not, it’s likely that the Celtics would need to include Thomas in any potential deal. Though Thomas instantly became a fan favorite and key part of this Celtics team, if parting ways with him means the addition of Lawson, count this Celtics fan in.
Derek McVay is a Boston Celtics beat writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @mcvay34, or add him to your network on Google.
