Would the reigning champion Boston Celtics dare to trade away one of their key starters just a year before winning their record 18th NBA title?

Colin Keane of The Sporting News suggests this as the Golden State Warriors look to move to a two-way winger and Boston will be in salary cap hell starting this summer when all contract extensions go into effect, team general manager Brad Stevens said might want to at least consider taking a step.

“At some point, Boston will need to make a bold trade to ensure sustained success in the Tatum/Brown era. “That would be like parting ways with Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis or Payton Pritchard in exchange for a… package of young talent,” writes Keane.

“Imagine the following package that Golden State could send to Boston for White: Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski and Kevon Looney,” Keane suggests.

In particular, savings and future salary flexibility are cited as the key benefits that could entice Stevens to this deal.

“From a financial perspective, this trade would be a crazy win for the Celtics. Kuminga and Looney are both on expiring contracts, and Podziemski has a ridiculously cheap deal that pays him $3.5 million (this season), $3.7 million and $5.7 million.” “Million dollars over the next three years “One of the best contracts in the NBA considering how much Podziemski contributes to winning,” Keane noted.

The loss of two-time All-Defensive team player White, 30, would have an immediate negative impact on the field, Keane warns, but Boston should be in the driver’s seat as a major contender to win for the second straight season. Kuminga and Podziemski, both 22 or younger, have plenty of room to grow.

En route to what could be his first All-Star season, the 6-foot-2 Colorado native is averaging 17.3 points on .450/.390/.860 shooting percentage along with 4.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.0 Steals and 1.0 blocks per game.

“From a basketball perspective, the Celtics would be immediately worse off, but not to the point where they would lose their status as favorites to repeat as NBA champions,” admits Keane.

Kuminga, a 6-foot-8 power forward, is averaging 15.0 points while posting .448/.308/.600 shooting splits, 3.3 boards, in 21 games for Golden State (eight starts). 1.8 dimes, 1.0 swipes and 0.6 rejects per night). He is still only 22 years old. The 6-foot-3 Podziemski, 21, is averaging 7.9 points on lackluster shooting splits of .383/.238/.750, a step down from his All-Rookie debut season last year with slightly reduced minutes. He also recorded 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 0.8 steals.

More Celtics: Jaylen Brown has a surprising reaction when he finally plays against Marcus Smart