Boston Celtics: 3 panic deals to avoid at the trade deadline

Boston Celtics panic trade to avoid #3: Any Payton Pritchard trade

Danny Ainge has made the mistake of dealing away a fan-favorite point guard for a return that ultimately didn’t further the team’s postseason chances enough to overcome the negative attention said trade created.

In dealing away Isaiah Thomas in 2017, Ainge thought he was cashing out on the point guard’s value at its highest. In truth, he did accomplish that goal, as IT was never the same. But fans don’t forget, and I’m not entirely sure Ainge is forgiven for the infamous Kyrie Irving deal by some of the staunchest Cs fanatics.

In 2021, on a much smaller scale, Ainge can make a similar mistake. Payton Pritchard–the rookie sensation some see as the point guard of the future–is by far the best asset Boston has at its disposal. Just about any team in the association should want to add the 23-year-old to its roster.

And some may try to.

If Ainge so much as entertains any offers, he could catch some heat from the Boston faithful. But if he were to deal him away as one of the key components of a larger deal to acquire a star, the Boston Celtics better hang banner #18.

Because they will never live down dealing away the most exciting rookie since Jayson Tatum after a little over half a season during a global pandemic.