3 Boston Celtics players that must have a strong second-half of season
By Mark Nilon
Boston Celtics player No. 2) Payton Pritchard
Unlike Aaron Nesmith, fellow second-year pro, Payton Pritchard, has actually proven to have outplayed his draft position during his tenure thus far with the Boston Celtics, serving as an oft-utilized backcourt depth piece who, when given extended run on the hardwood, has generally produced admirably.
Unfortunately, however, unlike Nesmith, the 24-year-old’s path towards increased playing time has managed to become a bit more challenging post this year’s trade deadline what with the addition of Derrick White.
Because of this, we at HH fear that, should he not prove capable of showing out with both Marcus Smart and, now, White both considerably ahead of him on the depth chart, the front office could then go into the offseason more willing to dangle him in an effort to bring on someone who can help address another area of weakness within the rotation.
Now yes, obviously this is all highly speculative on our part, but think about it: if the C’s were interested in making a move for a noteworthy player this offseason without giving up one of the Jays in the process, outside of, say, Marcus Smart and Robert Williams, there’s an argument to be made that Pritchard is their most valuable commodity.
With White in the fold and signed through the next several seasons, it makes the hypothetical of parting ways with their young guard a bit more plausible for, after all, he plays the game’s most important position, came into the league having just won the NCAA’s Bob Cousy Award (bestowed to the top men’s collegiate point guard), and boasts impressive averages of 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and four assists per 75 possessions on 39 percent shooting from deep for his young career.
It is without a doubt that Pritchard is a quality player in the making, but with the fact that there are now two inarguably better players ahead of him in the lineup, should he not have himself a rather strong second-half of his year two campaign, Brad Stevens and co. could wind up finding themselves looking to swap him out for someone who can better round-out this championship-aspiring rotation via the offseason trade market.