Celtics Related Trade Rumors

?? Brogden going somewhere? This is one big deal, it appears to be a 4 team trade and his name is being involved in it so he may be going somewhere else?

https://us.yahoo.com/sports/report-celtics-remain-high-pritchard-220235247.html



Report: Celtics ‘remain high' on Pritchard as trade rumors swirl


Nick Goss
Mon, June 19, 2023 at 6:29 PM PDT


The rumor mill is starting to get pretty busy with the 2023 NBA Draft scheduled to take place Thursday in New York.

The Boston Celtics are a team to watch this week with several of their players involved in trade rumors. One player with an uncertain future in Boston is Payton Pritchard.

The 2020 first-round pick has seen his usage and scoring production decline in each of the last two seasons. After giving the Celtics some strong minutes in the 2022 playoffs -- including 14 points in a Game 7 win over the Milwaukee Bucks -- Pritchard was mostly a non-factor during the Celtics' 2023 postseason run that ended in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The 25-year-old guard appeared in all 24 of the Celtics' playoff games in 2022. He played in just 10 of Boston's 20 postseason matchups in 2023.


What's the latest on Pritchard's situation?

The Boston Globe's Adam Himmelsbach reported Monday that "the Celtics remain high on Pritchard, and there is no tension between him and the organization."

Pritchard has not been afraid to speak publicly about his desire to have a larger role, whether that comes in Boston or somewhere else. He's also been the subject of several trade rumors in recent weeks.

If the Celtics end up trading one of their top three point guards -- Marcus Smart, Malcolm Brogdon or Derrick White -- then it makes sense to keep Pritchard.

Pritchard can be a valuable player off the bench if he's given a chance to earn consistent playing time. He has hit 40 percent of his 3-point shots in three seasons. That's a pretty impressive rate. Pritchard isn't a great defensive player, but he'll give you full effort on that end of the floor. He also does a good job crashing the glass for a guy his size.

Another reason to hold on to Pritchard is his contract. His salary cap hit for next season -- the final year of his rookie contract -- is just $4,037,278. For a team like the Celtics that has dedicated a large amount of salary cap space to veteran players, having good young players under contract for cheap is essential to building a roster with enough depth to win in the playoffs.


Bob
MY NOTE: Thursday!!  


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https://us.yahoo.com/sports/malcolm-brogdon-most-likely-boston-193240700.html


Malcolm Brogdon ‘most likely’ Boston Celtics guard to be traded, per Marc Stein


Justin Quinn
Sat, June 17, 2023 at 12:32 PM PDT


The Boston Celtics are reportedly looking to rebalance their roster (and perhaps save some cap space) by dealing away one of their four backcourt players in Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Malcolm Brogdon, and Payton Pritchard, but new reporting from Substack’s Marc Stein suggests the Celtics would prefer the guard to be on the move to be Brogdon.

“Word is the most likely of the group to be dealt, entering the weekend, was Malcolm Brogdon rather than Marcus Smart, Derrick White or Payton Pritchard,” wrote Stein, mirroring much popular speculation that the former Sixth Man of the Year would be the most helpful balance of attractive to other ball clubs while carrying the largest salary of the foursome.

Brogdon’s spotty health and two remaining seasons may diminish his value some in light of the new cap regime instituted by the league’s new collective bargaining agreement.


But with several teams in search of guard and wing depth, it seems probable the 6-foot-5 Virginia alum will be on another team if any of the four guards are dealt.


Bob
MY NOTE:  If the choice is between Brogdon and White who would you rather give up?  I hope that this isn't just a salary reduction trade, I hope we fill a team need (i.e. "big") but Brogdon is a big contract among our wealth of back court players and that makes him the biggest target.  He's also at the height of his fame, being the reigning NBA 6th Man, so we'd probably get the best return for him.  I'm not happy about the prospect of losing him but if I had to lose one of Smart, White and Brogdon I suppose Brogdon would be the one.  


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There are rumors swirling around the Celtics being interested in Kristaps Porzingis.

Brogdon + Moose doesn't get it done, we're taxpayers and we'd be taking back too much salary, but maybe with a TPE?  We've been taking TPEs for years, including a monster one for Hayward, maybe we should try giving one?

Washington just lost Beal and gained CP3.  They were, for  the most part, without a point guard last year and it showed.  CP3 will help that, of course, but he's ancient and a rental at best.  Brogdon either starting or coming off the bench and playing starter minutes behind CP3 would be a major upgrade at point for them.  Kuzma is a scorer and now he doesn't have to compete with Beal for touches.  How about a starting 4 of Paul, Brogdon, Kispert and Kuzma?  Sure, they'd need a center but if they're in rebuild mode they don't need, or maybe even want, one this year.

Is Washington interested in tearing it all down now?  Are they in full-blown rebuild mode with the departure of their undisputed top player?  Washington has the #8 pick and the draft is in 2 days.  Will they draft a big?  CBS has 7'1" Derrick Lively II going to Orlando @ #11.  So does nbadraft.com and so does The Ringer.  Taking him @ #8 isn't that much of a stretch, or suppose they trade down for him and get something from Orlando as a sweetener (e.g. #1 (Markelle Fultz) for #3 (Jayson Tatum) plus the #14 pick (Romeo Langford) in a future year's draft)?  Washington ended up 12th in the EC and were tied with Indy for 7th worst in the league this past year.  They needed LOTS of help in LOTS of areas and that was before trading Beal.

The Zinger has had trouble staying on the court, he had an ACL and didn't play 2018-2019, but he played 65 games last year and that's 30 games more than The Time (off court) Lord.


Bob


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Beal getting moved look like a salary dump initiative and a realization that flushing more money down the crapper, on a team with little to no prospects to compete, is not good Washington looks to be going into a rebuild mode. Also read that CP3 may be on the move to one of the LA teams.

Report: Celtics exploring Pritchard trade to land first-round pick


Darren Hartwell
Tue, June 20, 2023 at 5:48 AM HST


The Boston Celtics haven't made a first-round pick since taking Payton Pritchard 26th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. Could they use Pritchard as a means to end that streak?

The Celtics "have explored trades" involving their lone selection in Thursday's 2023 NBA Draft (No. 35 overall) and Pritchard to "move up into the first round," The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor reported Tuesday.

It's unclear what pick Boston could obtain in such a trade, or who they might target with that first-rounder. But it makes sense why they're at least considering trading Pritchard.

The 26-year-old guard saw his minutes reduced last season in a crowded backcourt that included Marcus Smart, Derrick White and offseason addition Malcolm Brogdon. It's likely at least one of Boston's four guards gets moved in a trade this offseason, and Pritchard has been open about his desire to be traded and get more playing time.

Pritchard should have interested parties as a scrappy, talented backup guard who can provide a scoring punch off the bench and is a career 40 percent 3-point shooter. The three-year veteran reportedly has "several supporters" in Phoenix, where the Suns may be looking for guard depth after trading away Chris Paul and Landry Shamet.

There's also a case to keep Pritchard, however. The Oregon product is set to make just $4 million next season on the final year of his rookie contract, while Smart, White and Brogdon are all making north of $18 million. Trading Brogdon or Smart and keeping Pritchard would give the Celtics a better chance of staying under the "second apron" of the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement, which kicks in for the 2024-25 and includes harsh penalties for teams that exceed that apron.

If the Celtics are high on a player in this year's draft and can move up to grab him, it's worth moving on from Pritchard. But Brad Stevens and Co. reportedly still think highly of Pritchard as well, and will need to make sure that player represents better value than what they already have.


Bob
MY NOTE:  I understand trading Payton, BUT, if we trade Brogdon then he'll get more minutes like he wants.  Furthermore, he's still cheap, he has several years in our system, his teammates know and like him and he is a known quantity with a desirable NBA skill.  He can shoot. He's not an Aaron Nesmith, who entered the draft as perhaps the best shooter in the draft and then couldn't hit the broad side of a barn once he got into the NBA (he shot 36.6% last year for Indy. Decidedly league average). Trading Payton for a draft pick does provide for a lower team salary long-term but is it worth it? How long will it take for the rookie to get up to speed, if ever?

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bobheckler wrote:There are rumors swirling around the Celtics being interested in Kristaps Porzingis.

Brogdon + Moose doesn't get it done, we're taxpayers and we'd be taking back too much salary, but maybe with a TPE?  We've been taking TPEs for years, including a monster one for Hayward, maybe we should try giving one?

Washington just lost Beal and gained CP3.  They were, for  the most part, without a point guard last year and it showed.  CP3 will help that, of course, but he's ancient and a rental at best.  Brogdon either starting or coming off the bench and playing starter minutes behind CP3 would be a major upgrade at point for them.  Kuzma is a scorer and now he doesn't have to compete with Beal for touches.  How about a starting 4 of Paul, Brogdon, Kispert and Kuzma?  Sure, they'd need a center but if they're in rebuild mode they don't need, or maybe even want, one this year.

Is Washington interested in tearing it all down now?  Are they in full-blown rebuild mode with the departure of their undisputed top player?  Washington has the #8 pick and the draft is in 2 days.  Will they draft a big?  CBS has 7'1" Derrick Lively II going to Orlando @ #11.  So does nbadraft.com and so does The Ringer.  Taking him @ #8 isn't that much of a stretch, or suppose they trade down for him and get something from Orlando as a sweetener (e.g. #1 (Markelle Fultz) for #3 (Jayson Tatum) plus the #14 pick (Romeo Langford) in a future year's draft)?  Washington ended up 12th in the EC and were tied with Indy for 7th worst in the league this past year.  They needed LOTS of help in LOTS of areas and that was before trading Beal.

The Zinger has had trouble staying on the court, he had an ACL and didn't play 2018-2019, but he played 65 games last year and that's 30 games more than The Time (off court) Lord.


Bob


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That will be a very interesting move! Porzingis has a $36M player option that he must decide on by June 29th. Brogdon, Pritchard and Muscala would work for salary match here. Likely sufficient assets as well, in fact, Boston may be over paying unless Porzingis also agrees to an extension.

gyso wrote:Prakash,

Spotrac says the deadline is the 21st (tomorrow) for the player option.

Weird. I am seeing 24th as player option deadline on one site. nba.com does not list a deadline. Perhaps Spotrac is more accurate.

Bob, I think I originated the Zinger to Boston rumor - in my own mind. But if we trade Brogdon and Payton, where is our backup guard? The kid from Bama - Davison?

Now the rumors are Jaylen to Portland for Dame AND Nurkic.

Even with a supermax extension I doubt the numbers would work.



The good news is that Nurkic is repped by Klutch Sports, Rich Paul's group.  Maybe he could convince LeBron to come here (for those who don't recognize that it's called 'humor').


The draft is tomorrow.  Then there's the slightly crazy period after that as GMs look at who actually drafted whom and whether they drafted for need or for the best player at any position left on the board.  Then there's the free agency insanity.  It might be another 2-3 weeks before we can settle down and stop with all this speculation by people who make money off of clicks.  I am ready for that day to come, the sooner the better.


Bob


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Dame and Nurcic? Still a bad deal.

8, 37, 56, 52 - that's how many games Mr. Durable Jusuf Nurcic has played the past 4 years - He averages lifetime about 24 mpg.  Dame the past two years has played in 29 and 58. Not enough.

Jaylen averages 67 games per year.

Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
about 45 minutes ago
As the NBA draft approaches, the list of teams inquiring about a Grant Williams sign-and-trade has grown to over half a dozen, sources told @TheAthleticNBA.


Bob


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Danny was pretty good at spotting talent.

He also was pretty good at sniffing out pretenders. There are some out there that just want to rattle the cage and see what falls.

Celtics are exploring trades ahead of this week’s NBA draft, with an eye on depth


By Adam Himmelsbach Globe Staff,Updated June 19, 2023, 3:05 p.m.



A few days after the Celtics season came to a sudden end with a loss to the Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens sat at a dais and discussed taking this team’s final, elusive step.

Stevens pointed out that the Celtics had been just 48 minutes from their second consecutive Finals appearance and that most of their key pieces are under contract for next season, so a roster reconstruction was unnecessary. But he acknowledged that there was a need for some retooling.

According to a league source, the Celtics have been exploring trades that would reduce some of the congestion in their talented backcourt and bolster their depth at the wing or big positions.


Third-year guard Payton Pritchard had career lows in games (48), minutes per game (13.4), and scoring average (5.6) this past season, and in February he spoke about his desire to be traded to a team that would offer more opportunity. The source said that the Celtics remain high on Pritchard, and there is no tension between him and the organization.


Guard Malcolm Brogdon, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, had an excellent season that was slightly smudged by a rough ending. Slowed by a forearm strain, he was just 1 for 16 from the field and scored 2 points over his final four games of the conference finals.

The two-year, $45 million extension Brogdon signed with the Pacers before being traded to the Celtics last summer is set to kick in next season. Pritchard, meanwhile, is due to make just $4 million next season.

But the source stressed that financial obligations will not guide the roster decisions. Ownership paid about $69 million in luxury taxes last season and continues to show a commitment to building a championship roster during this title window.


Jaylen Brown remains an essential part of that picture. The source said the Celtics do not intend to trade the All-Star forward, and that all signs continue to point toward Brown signing a five-year, $295 million super-max extension this summer.

The source said it remains quite likely that forward Grant Williams, a restricted free agent, will be back in Boston next year, but that the Celtics have received inquiries from teams about sign-and-trade possibilities involving him.

The Celtics would have the ability to match any offer sheet Williams signs, and barring a surprisingly massive deal, they would do just that. The source said the Celtics most likely will simply re-sign Williams on their own, but a sign-and-trade would allow them to recoup some assets if the sides ultimately decide to part ways.

Last fall, Williams and the Celtics were unable to agree on a contract extension, with Williams seeking a deal worth about $54 million over four years. He fell out of coach Joe Mazzulla’s rotation for long stretches during the postseason but remained a valuable piece when given the chance.

“Everybody around the league knows that Grant can add value to a winning team,” Stevens said earlier this month. “We know that. We’re big fans of his and I thought he played [well] and did a lot of good things when he got the opportunity. But I don’t think it was an easy roster to always decide who would play, because we did have a lot of good players.”


Meanwhile, the Celtics continue to fortify Mazzulla’s staff. Earlier this month, they hired lead assistants Charles Lee and Sam Cassell, and a league source said Monday that they have added former Celtics guard Phil Pressey.

Pressey played for the Celtics from 2013-15 and spent last season working as an assistant at Missouri.

The source said the team is likely to add at least one more behind-the-bench coach in the coming weeks.

Celtics draft picks Yam Madar and Juhann Begarin are not expected to play for the team’s Las Vegas summer league squad, a league source said, primarily because of commitments to their European clubs.

Madar, a 2020 second-round choice, is finishing his season with KK Partizan of the Adriatic League. Begarin, a 2021 second-round pick, recently signed with Nanterre 92, which competes in France’s top pro division.


Bob
MY NOTE:  Ok, so nothing's written in stone (yet) but it appears that the "Jaylen to (fill_in_the_blank)" rumors can be dropped in the wastecan where I think they should have been all along.  It's also looking good for Grant to return, although not as much so.  Maybe we can get Isaiah Stewart for Grant, almost certainly Nazr Reid.  I'm not excited by the prospect, Grant is a very versatile defender, a real tough guy both physically and mentally, and shot 39.5% from 3 last year (which is pretty amazing when you consider his 0-25 season start from 3) but we need depth at big.  Is "Beef Stew" a better big than Grant?  Hmm.  Certainly not from 3.  He's a better rebounder per minute, but not as good a passer.  6'8", 250# vs 6'6", 235#.  Is that a big, literally and figuratively, enough difference?  Bottom line is that trading Malcolm or Grant will get us a lot of what we need.  Trading both of them almost certainly will.  Both are highly respected around the league for what they do.

The NBA landscape should really begin to change in about 30 hours from now, if not sooner.


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bobheckler wrote:Celtics are exploring trades ahead of this week’s NBA draft, with an eye on depth

By Adam Himmelsbach Globe Staff,Updated June 19, 2023, 3:05 p.m.

MY NOTE:  Ok, so nothing's written in stone (yet) but it appears that the "Jaylen to (fill_in_the_blank)" rumors can be dropped in the wastecan where I think they should have been all along.  It's also looking good for Grant to return, although not as much so.  Maybe we can get Isaiah Stewart for Grant, almost certainly Nazr Reid.  I'm not excited by the prospect, Grant is a very versatile defender, a real tough guy both physically and mentally, and shot 39.5% from 3 last year (which is pretty amazing when you consider his 0-25 season start from 3) but we need depth at big.  Is "Beef Stew" a better big than Grant?  Hmm.  Certainly not from 3.  He's a better rebounder per minute, but not as good a passer.  6'8", 250# vs 6'6", 235#.  Is that a big, literally and figuratively, enough difference?  Bottom line is that trading Malcolm or Grant will get us a lot of what we need.  Trading both of them almost certainly will.  Both are highly respected around the league for what they do.

The NBA landscape should really begin to change in about 30 hours from now, if not sooner.

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Going with the guess that the Celtics are going to find a way financially to hold onto Tatum, Brown and Smart, the oft repeated headline that the team is looking to trade for depth makes perfect sense.

To my way of thinking, the team may more specifically be looking to build a frontcourt and then add depth. My guess anyway.

Isaiah Stewart or Naz Reid would look like the ideal way to add a new center to the starting lineup. Both are looking like a slightly more affordable, but not ultra-cheap approach, given upcoming CBA constraints. I would gladly give up Grant to get either, in that I don't see him giving us the inside presence both of those players can, and that we badly need. In both cases it would take a lot more than just Grant, though. I would like to see us keep Brogdon, but dollars and sense (pun intended) and the need for a couple of bigs tops retaining Malcolm for me as well.

The only problem being repeated reports that the Pistons are unwilling to part with Stewart and the Wolves have made retaining Reid a priority. I wouldn't part with either one easily, either.

Grant vs. Isaiah Stewart last year stats:

Grant -  25.9 minutes per game, 8.1 ppg/ .770 ft%/ .395 3 point % on 3.7 3 point attempts per game/ 4.6 RB per game/ 1.7 AST/ 1.0 TOV/ 0.4 BLK/ 0.5 STL

Beef Stew - 24.8 minutes per game, 11.3 ppg/ .738 ft%/ .327% 3 point % on 4.1 3 points attempts per game/ 8.1 RB per game/ 1.4 AST/ 1.4 TOV/ 0.7 BLK/ 0.4 STL

The big difference I can see stat-wise is Stew has 3.5 more RB and 3.2 points per game.

Can Stew guard as well as Grant? I never watch the Pistons. I just don't know.

Grant is 24, Stew is 22. Grant will get at least $13M next year. Maybe much more. Beef Stew has one year left on his rookie contract at $5,266,713.  Brad - you figure this out.

What's ironic about the whole Isaiah Stewart thirsting is that he was picked #16 the year we picked Aaron Nesmith with #14.  So he was available to us.  Now you can argue that Nesmith and Theis got us NBA 6th Man Malcolm Brogdon and Brogdon is better (and more valuable) than Stewart and maybe it all worked out for us anyway but that's how it panned out.  We took Nesmith, he was El Busto, and we got Brogdon for a song.  If we had taken Stewart we wouldn't have gotten Brogdon, and probably not signed Moose nor kept Luke.  A "big" ripple effect.

Weird how these things twist and turn, isn't it?  You can really make yourself dizzy trying to do the "what ifs" on draft picks, even the ones that make sense.  Philly taking Fultz made complete sense, it just didn't work out.  Taking Zion #1 was the only logical choice, but he's played a grand total of 114 games in 4 years and is looking more and more like The Hindenburg every time I see him.  There's a rumor running around that NOP wants to trade Zion for a top 3 pick.  Well, the only way they're getting Wembanyama is by prying him out of Pop's cold, dead hands and so that means #2 or #3, but the mere idea that they'd trade someone once considered a "generational player" for for an unproven rookie is the real eye-opener.  Taking Nesmith, the allegedly best shooter in the draft, was the logical choice, and we all thought ourselves lucky that he dropped to #14 for us.  The draft is a crap shoot.  If it wasn't for the cheap, long-term contracts rookies sign I'd be just as happy avoiding most of them other than top 10 picks.


Bob


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Grant stretches the floor. Stewart doesn't. If we lose Grant abd get Stewart, I'm concerned about spacing Didn't we try this already with another albeit older, guy from Detroit. He ate up rebounds, but couldn't move his feet on D.Careful what you ask for.

Good points jr, gyso, and Bob.

Stewart battled some injuries this year, so time was limited.

He's not a spacer, he's a tough inside presence. Good defender.

His game and Grant's are two entirely different things.

Not much of a debate anyway, because it's doubtful Detroit will let him go easily if at all.

Stewart and Reid are just examples of what we're missing IMO. Good, but unavailable ones. Subtract Grant's abilities and sub in something like what those two can give you and we improve the balance at both ends. Inside presence. We don't have it. Plenty of shooters. Add someone who can get it done in the paint and now the Miami's of the world can try pitching defensive switches and it won't matter. On the offensive end you've got the type of player that can board, put it back, or kick it out. Defensive end you add a bulky enforcer who's athletic enough, can defend the rim and board thanks to solid footwork and a good wingspan. Grant's not the guy there, RWIII is too fragile, and Al is 103 years old in basketball years. Paying to keep Tatum, Jaylen and Smart? Retaining White? Good. Finish the job and get me a basher or two in the paint.

Side Note that doesn't matter but...: Stewart is a personal favorite of mine because he's from McQuaid Jesuit here in town and played in our tourney a few years ago. One of the most impressive physical specimens you can stand next to. Worked out locally along with Marcus Smart last offseason. They both work with a shooting coach here, Jeff Fitch, and Smart also works with a local ball-handling coach, Tyler Relph, that many NBA guards use.