Celtics predicted to cut ties with All-Star in trade to Warriors

Could the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors agree on a pivotal trade this offseason?

Boston is widely reported to be interested in cutting salary, with Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis considered the most likely trade chips.

On Friday, Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes envisioned a deal that would ship one of those assets off to Golden State.

“The Warriors appear committed to pairing Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green in the frontcourt, which creates a major need for spacing,” Hughes wrote.

“Quinten Post, a rookie second-rounder, worked his way into a regular rotation role late in the season because he could knock down threes. The Warriors were willing to live with his defensive lapses and inexperience in exchange for his shooting ability.”

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“(Kristaps) Porziņģis would provide even more offensive benefits without so many drawbacks.”

Here’s the full deal proposed by Hughes:

The Trade

Celtics receive…

• Kristaps Porzingis

Warriors receive…

• Moses Moody
• Buddy Hield
• Trayce Jackson-Davis
• Gui Santos

“A Warriors offense that also needs size could get a lot of mileage out of Stephen Curry-Porzingis screening action, as KP's switch-busting post-up game would add a dimension the Dubs have never really had,” Hughes continued.

“Boston would have to make other moves to accommodate four new players, but all four of Moody, Hield, Jackson-Davis and Santos are positive values on their current contracts. The Celtics could reroute any of their new additions or just hold onto Moody and Hield as replacements for Holiday and White if they also trade those two away.”

Hughes’s idea of the Warriors going after Porzingis is realistic, but the actual package proposed by Hughes isn’t as believable.

Porzingis, for all of his rare talent, isn’t a highly valued asset right now due to his recent injury history. It’s almost impossible to imagine the Warriors giving up two valuable wings in their rotation — Hield and Moody — just to get a player (Porzingis) on an expiring contract who has appeared in just 60 percent of regular season games over the past two seasons.

KP on the Warriors would be a good fit, but Golden State wouldn’t give up this much to get him.

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