The Celtics have been weighing the possibility of trading Payton Pritchard to try to move into the first round of the 2023 NBA draft, reports Sean Deveney of Heavy.com. Boston doesn’t currently control a first-round pick.
A couple of possible targets could be Marquette wing Olivier-Maxence Prosper and UCLA wing Jaime Jaquez, according to Deveney.
“Great organization, great history. I had a really good time there,” Prosper said of his workout with the Celtics.
However, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports suggests (via Twitter) that a potential package deal involving Pritchard and the No. 35 pick might be shelved if the team is able to acquire Kristaps Porzingis from Washington, with Malcolm Brogdon possibly heading to the Clippers and Danilo Gallinari being sent to the Wizards. Losing Brogdon would obviously affect Boston’s backcourt depth and would seemingly open up playing time for Pritchard.
Here are a few more rumors and notes on the Celtics:
- Multiple league sources tell Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe that if the Celtics do land Porzingis, there’s a good chance Grant Williams may be headed to a new team (Twitter link). As Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype tweets, adding Porzingis’ $36MM contract for 2023/24 would push the club close to the second tax apron, and releasing Williams’ cap hold (along with several others) would give Boston access to the taxpayer mid-level exception. Re-signing Williams would push the Celtics past the second apron.
- Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston explains why the Celtics weren’t in on the Bradley Beal sweepstakes despite the three-time All-Star’s close ties to Jayson Tatum. Aside from his massive contract and full no-trade clause, which have to be highlighted when talking about a taxpayer like Boston, the Celtics are focused on rebalancing the roster by adding size at other positions rather than acquiring another guard, Forsberg writes.
- Former NBA big man Amile Jefferson, who was an assistant coach with Duke in ’22/23, is finalizing a multiyear contract to join the Celtics as an assistant, a source tells Travis Branham of 247Sports.com. Jefferson played 30 games with the Magic from 2018-20.
Celtics are making a bold move with KP. I wonder if the Rockets with Ime put a bid in for Grant Williams.
They could but they have so many young guys waiting. Jabari Smith, KMJr, Jaesean Tate and Tari Eason. Garuba plays 4 also.
Celtics would be foolish to let Grant walk for nothing. teams want to work out a S+T so they might as well get something in return.
Boston is all of the sudden a pretty scary team if they can add depth while hardcapped. They’re probably losing Grant Williams, and they lose Brogdon, so they need to add wing depth, and they could keep Champagnie at the backup 4…but they could theoretically play lineups with Horford and Porzingis at the 4/5 in certain matchups, which I think would have been even harder for the Heat to deal with than certain lineups already were before (I thought they had a lot of different things they could have done this year though)
I think Prosper would definitely be a fit for them, among others.
I dont think this is a S & T. Didn’t Porzingis opt in?
I mean, they were one game from being in the finals. I think they were already a pretty scary team. This acquisition moves the needle, too. So now they might be the favorite.
As a Celtic hater, I agree they have been scary for a few years now.
As a Celtic lover I’m cautiously optimistic. I hate losing Brogdon but we just have too many guards and he deserves to get more minutes if not a starter. I’ll be happy for him in LA. I’m hoping they can still find a way to keep Grant. Steven’s and Wyc sayd finance will not steer their off-season roster moves. But I’m not sure what else I’d expect them to say.
I think Philly may be much better with Nurse. Doc was holding them back with is old school antics.
Just blow us up now Celtics and hoard draft picks again. Smh . Fire Brad