Boston Celtics: Analyst believes Pelicans big could be a trade deadline target

The Boston Celtics’ Wednesday, January 9 opponent, the New Orleans Pelicans, has a big man who Cs President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens and co. could have interest in leading up to the upcoming February 9 trade deadline.

Jaxson Hayes, a former lottery pick from the 2019 draft, is an upcoming restricted free agent and could be available should the Pelicans falter without Zion Williamson in the lineup after his January 2 hamstring injury suffered during a matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Hayes’ minutes were low during the initial portion of the regular season, but since his minutes have picked up, he has provided rebounding, rim protection, and easy offense in spurts. BSS’ Dan Greenberg sees that as a potential caveat in any Hayes pursuit, but ultimately sees his name present on Stevens’ trade target whiteboard:

What the Boston Celtics can offer for Jaxson Hayes

There’s a universe where injuries allow Justin Jackson — who just had his contract guaranteed on the January 10 deadline along with Luke Kornet — to showcase enough to boost his trade value over the next month. If so, that’d be the only player worth giving up for Hayes.

The Boston Celtics front office would absolutely not consider Payton Pritchard in such a deal, and it seems unlikely Brad Stevens would give up on Kornet considering his social media endorsement last offseason.

That leaves Jackson as the lone potential outbound player. Perhaps Hayes could absorbed into the Juan Hernangomez trade exception, as the person Greenberg was responded to pointed out. In that case, a few second-round picks could be the price to pay to add a youthful, high-flying big to Boston’s frontcourt.