Why Boston Does it:

Signing Al Horford made sense for the Celtics last year. They were a team on the rise with assets aplenty. What does it matter if it was to a 4 year, $113 million deal? Every borderline star is receiving a max contract these days.

Over the course of the next year, two things happened:

Hayward took his talents to Boston on a 4 year, $127 million deal. With that in mind, Isaiah Thomas will be a free agent next year, commanding a max contract. How comfortable are Celtics fans betting on a core of Horford, Thomas, and Hayward? With the acquisition of Horford, the Celtics fell from 5th in team rebounding in the 2015/16 season, to 26th in 2016/17 season. The lack of muscle and length was on full display in the playoffs. Think back to the first couple games against the Bulls where Robin Lopez could have been confused for an All-Star.

Indeed, Boston needs rebounding and rim protection, size and strength. They need a guy who can collapse the defense with the pick and roll. DeAndre Jordan is the best rim runner in the league, as well as one of its top rebounders. While he doesn’t provide the sheer versatility or shooting of Al Horford, the skills at his disposal are a perfect fit.

Austin Rivers is a supplementary piece to balance the contracts. DeAndre Jordan is on a significantly cheaper deal than Horford, and therefore salary needs to be matched, as both teams are breaching the cap. Rivers will provide a functional rotational piece, either as a compliment to Isaiah Thomas or to give him a breather.

Additionally, the Celtics have more wing players than they know what to do with. Having traded Brown to fill their biggest need, they will still have Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, and Jae Crowder. Their depth at the wing positions will remain enviable.

Why L.A. Does it:

There’s been much upheaval with the Clippers recently, capped by Doc Rivers being stripped of his title as President of Basketball Operations. With Chris Paul gone, the team has to seek a new direction. The days of lob city are over. The “Point God” will no longer probe the paint and drop dimes in a Clipper jersey. Enter: The Blake Griffin Era.

Courtesy of Giphy

As the offense’s focal point, Blake’s combination of ball handling and physicality make him extremely hard to guard on the inside. He possesses elite facilitating ability for a big man. His improved shooting has made him a multidimensional threat. Be this as it may, after experiencing a net loss in 3 point shooting and overall talent, Griffin could struggle as the go-to option if he’s not given enough room to operate. Such a problem could arise if Rivers’ employs his traditional lineup that features two bigs in the post.

By signing Danilo Gallinari, L.A. has already brought in supplementary shooting and playmaking. Patrick Beverley, acquired in the Chris Paul trade, shot 38% from beyond the arc last year and 40% the year previous. While talented in their own right, these two have a tall task compensating for the loss of Chris Paul and J.J. Redick, the team’s leading 3-point shooters from the previous year.

Having a center that can stretch the floor is extremely valuable, as it takes the biggest player on the opposing team out of the paint. With his ability to score in isolation and pass out of a double team, surrounding the Clipper forward with four 3-point shooters projects as a lethal approach. Al Horford shot 35% from 3 last season, averaging 14 points per game and a whopping 5 assists. Meshing skills is paramount and Horford is the ideal complement to maximize Griffin’s game.

Meanwhile, the addition of Jerry West to the Clippers’ consultants means they will keep an eye towards the future. He’s one of the keenest minds in basketball, and will surely see that even now, plans must be put in motion to guarantee the longevity of the franchise’s success.

Jaylen Brown has shown glimpses of what is to come. His 1-on-1 defense, athleticism and slashing ability have stood out. His shooting form is clean and he made 34% of his attempts from downtown last season. He’s shown wrinkles of isolation scoring and a turnaround jump shot. On top of that, Brown is just 20 years old with 3 years remaining on his rookie deal. While further development is needed, the former third-overall pick presents upside the Clippers organization and its fans can look forward to.

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