Simulation of Celtics' season with Barnes offers insight into impact

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Amid the deluge of NBA trade rumors, one name keeps getting linked to the Boston Celtics: Harrison Barnes.

Danny Ainge has expressed a desire for “shooting with size,” and the Sacramento Kings forward – who stands at 6-foot-8 and shoots 37% from 3-point range – appears to fit the bill.

Barnes also has championship experience, having won an NBA title with the Golden State Warriors in 2015. That begs the question: How far could the Celtics go this season with Barnes on their roster?

Last week's What if Wednesday: What if KD signed with C's in 2016 free agency?

Enter our partners at Strat-O-Matic, who used their powerful simulation software to swing a virtual Boston trade and play out the remainder of the 2020-21 NBA season.

Editors Note: Strat-O-Matic, the market leader in sports simulation, has partnered with NBC Sports Boston to build simulation experiences for "What If Wednesdays.” 

Strat-O-Matic’s comprehensive results feature full stat lines for every Celtics player (including the newcomer), box scores for every remaining Celtics game and a playoff simulation that details how far Boston advances with Barnes in tow.

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Find the latest Boston Celtics news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Boston.

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Let’s just say C’s fans will find the results… interesting. Here are six observations from Strat-O-Matic’s data.

What if the Celtics trade for Harrison Barnes? Playing out C's season.

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