The Boston Celtics are finding themselves in some trade buzz with the deadline a little over seven weeks away.
What is PBO Brad Stevens going to do before February 5 to alter this roster, if anything at all? Perhaps the best move is to stand pat.
One thing’s for certain — Stevens isn’t going to trade Payton Pritchard unless he gets an offer on his desk that is an absurd, impossible-to-refuse overpay.
A new Pritchard-Houston Rockets trade idea from Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley isn’t an example of such an offer; it’s a proposal that Stevens would be wise to refuse if it were ever presented to him.
Buckley envisioned the Rockets offering the following package for Pritchard: Tari Eason, Jae’Sean Tate, and a 2029 first-round pick (via Dallas Mavericks or Phoenix Suns).
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“While the Rockets have the resources needed to take a bigger swing than this, their two-way domination to date … may have sapped any motivation for that level of move,” Buckley wrote.
“So, they could instead attempt to fortify a point guard rotation that remains without floor general Fred VanVleet. Come playoff time, they may prefer more protection than just having Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard in the mix. Pritchard, a 27-year-old with a ton of high-stakes experience on his resume (and a championship ring in his collection), could supply that insurance along with a useful skill set that works on or off the ball.”
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Eason and Tate are both on expiring contracts. While Eason, in particular, is a really nice piece who would help the Celtics win games, getting him on an expiring deal doesn’t really make any sense in exchange for Pritchard.
Payton is worth more than a 2029 first-rounder to the Celtics, due to his role as an important rotational player on one of the best contracts in the entire NBA.
This would be an easy no from Brad.
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Featured image via Winslow Townson/Imagn Images
