The Boston Celtics could have a pretty quiet offseason. They are currently facing off with the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals, so their roster is already good enough to compete.
However, even contenders will tweak things on the roster in the offseason to make sure they remain at that level. The Celtics’ roster is a strong one, but they will assuredly be on the lookout for players they believe can help upgrade the roster.
Over at Bleacher Report, a no-brainer trade target was selected for each team in the league. The player selected for Boston is Indiana Pacers guard, Malcolm Brogdon. That is certainly an interesting choice, as Brogdon signed an extension that keeps him under contract through 2025 and has some serious injury concerns.
This past season he missed 46 games. That makes it five consecutive seasons that he has missed at least 16. But, when he can stay on the court, he would present an upgrade for the Boston Celtics as pointed out over at B/R.
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The player he would likely be taking the most minutes away from is Payton Pritchard. Pritchard’s game translates well as a backup point guard, as he can knock down 3-pointers and doesn’t turn the ball over.
But, Pritchard has seen his role diminish as the NBA Finals have gone on. While his opportunities are limited, he hasn’t made a shot since Game 3, which isn’t ideal. His lack of size could be a reason why.
Standing only 6’1”, Pritchard can be picked on by opponents defensively. That is something that wouldn’t happen to a player such as Malcolm Brogdon, who is 6’4” and can hold up on switches and defending wings with his 6’11” wingspan.
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However, the price to acquire Brogdon from the Indiana Pacers could be a sticking point. Would the Celtics be willing to part ways with Derrick White or Marcus Smart? How much draft compensation would Indiana be looking for if they took a combination of Daniel Theis, Aaron Nesmith and Pritchard instead?
Finding a package that works for both sides could be tough, but is certainly worth exploring for the Boston Celtics. Malcolm Brogdon is a big enough upgrade and versatile enough that Ime Udoka should be able to find a role for him.
