Boston Celtics: “Agree or Disagree” on list of trade targets Cs should avoid
By Mark Nilon
Player Boston Celtics should avoid No. 1) Otto Porter Jr.
Recently, reports surfaced that the Boston Celtics will be looking to add “shooters with size”, with many insisting that Ainge will aim to bring on depth to their wing position.
A player that falls into both of these aforementioned categories is eighth-year small forward, Otto Porter Jr.
Currently in the final year of his deal, the 27-year-old is posting solid averages of 11.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and two assists per game on 44 percent shooting from the floor and 40 percent shooting from deep.
In Buckley’s analysis, he goes on to admit that a guy like Porter does in fact fit the mold in which the Cs are looking to fill, but cites health concerns as perhaps the biggest deterrent for the team to pursue him:
"The 27-year-old played 56 games in 2018-19 and just 14 last season. After playing in each of Chicago’s first 10 games this season, he has since appeared in just six of its last 13. That includes missing each of its past four contests and subsequently being shut down from basketball activities to deal with a nagging back issue. The Celtics don’t have a lot in the way of reliable depth, so if they move assets for a player, they need him to provide consistent production. Porter can’t do that if he’s stuck on the sideline."
Buckley brings up some great points here — health should certainly be a concern when talking Porter and, with the fact that he has played 70 or more games on just four occasions throughout his career, this is nothing out of the ordinary for him.
Oddly enough, just a few weeks ago, I personally deemed the wing as a trade target the Celtics should consider using their $28.5 million TPE, however, this was before his back injury.
With the fact that he has already missed the past five games and was just recently deemed “out indefinitely”, this may be too big of a risk for Boston to consider and, thus, they should pass on this target.