Boston Celtics: Pass or pursue on 5 surprising deadline targets

The Boston Celtics buy low on P.J. Washington?

P.J. Washington his having a post-sophomore year slump, with his down-year coming in Year 3 with the Charlotte Hornets.

The main issues revolve around his health and the performance of his understudy-turned-centerpiece Miles Bridges as Swartz points out:

"While a right knee sprain has limited his production this year (6.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 32.1 percent shooting in 23.0 minutes), Washington was already removed from the starting five in favor of Miles Bridges. There seems to be little chance he’ll get his starting spot back, either, given the incredibly hot start Bridges has gotten off to (25.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 50.9 percent shooting in 35.7 minutes) in Washington’s old role."

Washington would be an ideal trade target, though what it’d take to land him is currently undefined.

Verdict: Pursue, if the price isn’t too high

The Boston Celtics go for broke with potential franchise big man Deandre Ayton?

Deandre Ayton was just an instrumental piece in the Phoenix Suns’ first NBA Finals Appearance in 28 years.

How they haven’t locked up their former #1 overall pick–and the man that created a gravitational pull in the paint due to his scoring to open up the 3-point shooting for the Phoenix wings–yet is a true mystery.

But if it opens up the possibility of the pivot getting pissed to the point of wanting out of the Grand Canyon State, President of Basketball Ops. Brad Stevens and the Cs front office must strike.

Verdict: Pursue if Phoenix doesn’t fix this