Boston Celtics: B/R trade proposal lands second-generation star on Cs

There’s still a need for the Boston Celtics to solidify the roster here as the calendar turns to September now that the drawn-out Kevin Durant trade saga concluded with no trade of the 12x All-Star.

Boston has an overcrowded backcourt that is almost certainly not going to all get the minutes they are looking for. MassLive’s Brian Robb has even questioned whether or not Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Malcolm Brogdon, and Payton Pritchard would even all remain on the roster by this time next year.

Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley came up with a trade that addresses that concern, swapping Pritchard for Kenyon Martin Jr., the son of legendary big man enforcer Kenyon Martin, and adding a future second-round pick to the C’s draft stock.

Here’s the explanation for why the Boston Celtics would acquire the disgruntled second-generation Rockets star:

"“Martin wouldn’t be guaranteed to get minutes with the Celtics, but his athleticism and upside could allow him to carve a niche in this frontcourt as a high-energy finisher. If they can coax consistency out of his outside shot—he’s a career 36 percent shooter from deep but only 66.7 percent at the line—they could develop him into a valuable piece of their reserve rotation.”"

Should the Boston Celtics pass or pursue a trade for Kenyon Martin Jr.?

Back in June ahead of the 2022 NBA Draft, Kenyon Martin Jr. formally requested a trade from the Houston Rockets because of the influx of talent the franchise was about to get from the Nos. 3, 17, and 26 picks. The first two selections for Houston, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason, will directly cut into Martin’s playing time.

Martin saw the writing on the wall with his request, but can he truly be trusted not to continue rocking the boat in Boston? Buckley admits he wouldn’t get minutes, and one has to imagine Ime Udoka runs a no-nonsense locker-room.

If he can, he’s a perfect gamble as a high-flying combo-forward, but completely ignoring character concerns would be careless by the front office. If, and only if, Martin would sacrifice for the greater good could he be considered in a trade involving one of the team’s best trade chips.