A new rumor opens the door for the Boston Celtics or Chicago Bulls to make a huge trade that lands a young star to fill a position of need before the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline.
We are a week away from the trade deadline, and there is a lot of speculation about different stars that could get moved. Milwaukee Bucks legend Giannis Antetokounmpo is a name that keeps coming up in trade rumors. But, New York Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns and Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant are also high-impact veterans who may be up for grabs.
However, an unexpected star may be added to the trade speculation. According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, there has been chatter around the NBA that Paolo Banchero and Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley “might not be seeing eye to eye.”
Paolo Banchero stats: 21.6 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 4.9 APG
This is not the first time there have been reports about a divide between the coach and the team’s top star. Furthermore, when the former No. 1 overall pick missed 10 games this season, Orlando went 7-3 and looked very good with Franz Wagner as the focus of the offense. Overall, the team has been an average group with Banchero on the court.
The growing schism may offer a great opportunity for the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls.
Should the Celtics and Bulls target a Paolo Banchero trade?
The Celtics have far exceeded expectations this season. They were expected to take a big step back with Jayson Tatum out for most of the season and after moving on from three key veterans in the offseason. However, they sit in the second spot of the East and could be an NBA Finals sleeper if Tatum returns this spring.
They have been linked to a trade for Anthony Davis and reportedly want to improve their front court. If they were willing to add Davis’ big contract, why not target a younger player with upside who is already one of the better forwards in the game? Depending on what a trade would cost, Banchero and Jaylen Brown would be a handful in the playoffs. If you add Tatum to the mix, the Celtics become a serious title challenger.
Another team that should seriously consider a trade is the Bulls. They are just two games out of a top-six spot in the conference. And according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, “Chicago is looking to improve their postseason chances this season while adding young, athletic players to complement its core duo of Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis.”
Banchero would certainly be that, while giving them a new, young top star to pair with Giddey and Buzelis. Chicago has a boatload of expiring contracts, so the Magic could get several veteran impact players in a trade, then a bunch of cap flexibility in the summer.
