Boston Celtics: B/R feels Cs must trade former lottery pick

Every time the Boston Celtics go out west and lose in a game to a contender in the opposite conference, trade talk surrounding the still-top-seeded team (as of this writing) gets added validity.

Upon losing to the Denver Nuggets by double-digits on January 1, the question of whether or not this roster needs a move will once again pop up. And it isn’t an unfair question to ask when the Cs show flaws that could lead to another deep run that ultimately results in no Larry O’Brien trophy.

In a piece for Bleacher Report titled ‘The Player Every NBA Team Needs to Trade In 2023,’ Andy Bailey made the case that because of he hasn’t played and may not end up playing this season, Danilo Gallinari should be packaged with other assets to land someone who can play:

"“Trading (Gallinari) in the first year of a two-year deal (with that second year being a player option) while he recovers from that injury might feel a little harsh, but Boston is competing for a championship. Having a roster spot taken by someone who can’t play is far from ideal for a team in that tier.”“If Gallinari’s salary could be attached with a future asset to land someone who can help the Celtics right now, the front office would have to consider it.”"

The Boston Celtics not expected to trade Payton Pritchard

One asset that will not be attached to Danilo Gallinari’s dead money at the trade deadline is Payton Pritchard — who the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach reports is not on the trade block due to the organization’s viewpoint that he’s too invaluable to deal at this point.

Considering Malcolm Brogdon’s expiring contract, Pritchard could soon be back in the rotation in the coming years after having his minutes reduced to under 10 per game and appearing in just 23 of the team’s first 37 games so far in 2022-23.

Without Pritchard included, the Cs have limited assets to use in a potential deal, making standing pat the most likely outcome at the trade deadline.