The trade that would make the Rockets favorites to win the championship and weaken the Celtics

The evident need for the Boston Celtics to get out from under the luxury tax apron has been a hot topic lately. Experts worldwide suggest big moves this summer for the C's to trim salaries. Now, the team's biggest fan, Bill Simmons, proposes a deal that would slash money off the Celtics' cap and send two of their top NBA-champion starters to the Houston Rockets.

The issue for the Celtics is that next season could be a bust, with Jayson Tatum out for the year with an Achilles tear, and questions looming about how he will even look upon return. Their $500 million salary structure won't work. In a recent edition of The Bill Simmons Podcast, (h/t to heavy.com), Simmons put forth the following trade idea for his beloved team.

The Rockets would receive Jaylen Brown ($53M) and Jrue Holiday ($32.4M), while the Celtics would acquire Fred VanVleet ($44.8M team option), Jabari Smith Jr. ($12.3M), Tari Eason ($5.6 million), and the 10th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft ($6.3 million). "When I think about trading Brown, it probably makes the most sense on paper," Simmons said. "But that means we're splitting up Tatum and Brown, which is something I never wanted them to do."

A perfect exchange for Houston

But Simmons admits that if it saves them over $20 million and puts them under the luxury tax apron, while kicking off their rebuild with a couple of young talents like Smith Jr. and Eason plus a top-ten pick, they might have to consider it. As for the Rockets, they get the true superstar they've been looking for, one who is very familiar with Houston coach Ime Udoka from their time together in Boston.

Brown has been a four-time All-Star and once All-NBA. Last season, he averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals while playing his usual strong defense, guarding multiple positions. He would fit back in with Udoka like a glove. Do the Celtics really trade Brown this summer? Simmons still thinks it's a last resort. "There has to be a better option." An intriguing offseason looms for the 2024 NBA champions.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El traspaso que haría a los Rockets favoritos al anillo y debilitaría a los Celtics