Hardwood Houdini
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3 role-fillers who could be traded to the Boston Celtics

By Sam LaFrance

With the NBA's unofficial start to trade season looming, there is plenty of potential for the Boston Celtics to make an addition to their roster (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
With the NBA's unofficial start to trade season looming, there is plenty of potential for the Boston Celtics to make an addition to their roster (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /

An international deal for the Boston Celtics

Another potential deal that could improve the wing depth of the Boston Celtics would send  Payton Pritchard to the Toronto Raptors. Celtics fans got to see first hand the lack of production the Raptors get from their bench last week. On average Toronto only gets about 33 points per game from their reserves. One positive stat for that group would be that they are in the NBA’s top 10 for bench efficiency at 46.7% overall. However, they see a dip when shooting the 3-pointer. Like Portland, Toronto’s bench only makes 34% of their attempts from beyond the arc.

Pritchard could certainly be someone that provides a spark to the middling group of reserves. He’d be able to help with the three-point problem and would be a good piece to play rotational minutes with members of the starting group. The Raptor’s starting five is amongst the best in the league. Fred Van Vleet, Scottie Barnes, O.G. Anunouby, Pascal Siakam, and Christian Koloko/Precious Achiuwa make up a solid defensive unit with players able to create opportunities to score on the opposite end. Fast PP’s career 3-point percentage sits at just under 41%, making him a hypothetical-welcome to the Toronto bench.

The Celtics could ask for Otto Porter Jr. in return for Pritchard. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the Raptors would accept the deal, but it sure would be nice if they did. Porter is a long wing that can defend and shoot the three ball. He was a key piece of last season’s Golden State Warriors team that bested the C’s in the NBA Finals. Porter has missed time this season for Toronto as he’s been dealing with a toe injury. In the eight games he has played he’s averaged about 5.5 points on 50/35 shooting splits in 18 minutes per game.

The Boston Celtics would have to wait until Dec. 15 to make any sort of trade with Toronto since Porter signed up north over the summer. If they were to make a trade, they’d have to include Pritchard and possibly some picks to make it happen. Porter could fit into one of Boston’s TPE’s to make the money work.