If you’ve talked to a Boston Celtics fan for more than five minutes, you’ve probably heard some version of this argument:
The Celtics are one or two pieces away from being a championship contender. They should sign Gordon Hayward in free agency and flip the No. 1 pick for Jimmy Butler or Paul George, pairing two All-Stars with star point guard Isaiah Thomas and versatile big man Al Horford. With that group plus budding star Jaylen Brown and a strong bench, this team could knock off the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference and make a serious run at the Golden State Warriors for the NBA title.
Sounds peachy, right? It’s not a far…