It’s been a busy summer for the Boston Celtics. They’ve been among the NBA’s most active teams. The Celtics began the summer with a bang by flipping Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porzingis. Now, they’ve made another splash. The Celtics acquired Jrue Holiday to replace – and upgrade – Smart.
Eastern Conference rivals ought to be shaking in their boots. The Celtics may have assembled the most talented team in basketball. With that said, it hasn’t necessarily been a perfect summer. The Celtics had to give up Robert Williams III in their bid to land Holiday. That was a trade worth making, but it’s still a concern.
Luckily, the Celtics have the resources to replace Williams III. They could mine free agency for a budget replacement. At the same time, they still have the draft capital left over to make a bigger splash. We’re going to look at it from every angle. Here are three targets that the Celtics could consider as replacements for Williams III.
Nerlens Noel
We hear you. Is Nerlens Noel really a feasible replacement for Robert Williams III? A healthy Williams III is a game-breaker. He’s among the most versatile defensive big men in the NBA. On the other hand, Noel is simply solid. There’s a reason he isn’t even on an NBA roster at the moment.
Yet, that’s part of the appeal of Noel. The Celtics could offer him a one-year minimum and he’d likely accept. Moreover, this is still a valuable rotation player. Noel isn’t as agile as Williams III, but he can still defend in space to some extent. He’s also a capable rim protector.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Robert Williams III, Nerlens Noel & Boston Celtics Updates
He’s also, like Williams III, injury-prone. Sure, Noel is more durable than the man they call Time Lord, but the Celtics could be seeking a more reliable option. Could they reunite with a former player?
