With the NBA Trade Deadline fast approaching, the leaders of the 30 franchises are busy making the necessary transfers before the fateful date of February 9. Of course, the situation of each team is different, and it is specifically for this reason that we wanted to make a special deadline paper by franchise. Presentation of the issues, issues to watch, intentions on the transfer market… we explain everything to you. On the menu today, the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics, rather buyers or sellers at the deadline?
Everything is rolling in Boston right now. With an eight-game winning streak and an overall record of 34 wins and 12 losses, the Celtics continue to dominate badly this 2022-23 regular season. We are talking about the second most effective offense in the NBA (117.5 points per 100 possessions), the fifth best defense (110.9 points per 100 possessions), and the team with the best net rating (difference between offensive and defensive efficiency, 6.6) league-wide. Under the impetus of a Jayson Tatum in MVP mode and an absolutely formidable collective, Boston is a favorite for the NBA title at mid-season.
As the saying goes, you don’t change a winning team. The next three weeks should thus be calm on the side of Boston, where no major movement is to be expected.
🚨 No movement coming from the Boston side.
Brad Stevens does not leak any information, the only rumors around Payton Pritchard have been swept away in stride.
Buyout market to watch, until then it will be flat calm on the Celtics side. pic.twitter.com/jr2uDGg0Dh
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) January 10, 2023
The Celtics player(s) who could be transferred
No major moves to be expected, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any rumors regarding the Celtics.
Among the files to monitor in the “potential departure” box, there is that of Payton Pritchard. While he’s recently taken advantage of the absence of Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart to get some minutes and put in some interesting performances, the third-year point guard doesn’t really seem to fit into coach Joe Mazzulla’s plans when the team is at complete (lowest career playing time this year, just 10.7 minutes per night). That makes him a natural candidate for a transfer despite the fact that Boston still seems to want to keep him for now, and the Warriors would notably be among the teams interested.
Another issue to keep in mind is that of Daniel Gallinari. Recruited this summer but forfeited for the whole season due to a ruptured knee ligament, the Italian can potentially be included in a deal for salary reasons. The veteran is currently on a two-year, $13 million deal (with a player option next season). As a reminder, the Celtics obtained a Disabled Player Exception at the start of the season in the amount of $3.2 million following Gallo’s injury, an exception which can be used in a transfer to recover a player in the last year of his contract.
The players coveted by the Celtics
If the Celtics seem to have everything it takes to challenge for the title this season, the boss of basketball operations Brad Stevens will still take an eye on the transfer market to see if there is no way to further improve the current team. And one of the names that comes up often is that of Jakob Poeltl.
🚨 Jakob Poeltl in the sights of the Raptors (again) and the Celtics?
Boston and San Antonio had already worked together last year on the Derrick White file, a case to follow. https://t.co/CkVZxf7p4H
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) January 17, 2023
The 27-year-old Spurs pivot does not really correspond to the San Antonio franchise’s reconstruction project, which instead wants to take advantage of its market value (12.3 points at 63.4% shooting, 9.4 rebounds, 1.3 against) to get draft picks. But why are the Celtics interested in him when they already have Robert Williams III and Al Horford on position 5? Well because the first is no stranger to injuries and the second is 36 years old. You can never be too careful, eh, especially when you play for the title. Nevertheless, the Spurs are greedy in terms of consideration: two first-round draft picks, just that.
