Boston Celtics trade intel: Spurs forward ‘perfect’ but out of reach, 2019 lottery pick available

Recent losses may have loosened up analysts on the idea of the Boston Celtics making a trade after all — and if the Cs do decide to get aggressive in the leadup to the February 9 trade deadline, several rebuilding teams could be worth talking to.

In particular, the Celtics need a bigger forward who could usurp Sam Hauser’s role in the rotation given his struggles and a third big man who could serve as frontcourt insurance for Robert Williams III and Al Horford.

The San Antonio Spurs have someone who fits the first bill (Doug McDermott) and the Charlotte Hornets have someone that fits the second bill (P.J. Washington). As CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn points out, though, McDermott is just out of the team’s price range. Washington, however, is someone who could be available if the Hornets have no designs of signing him long-term.

What the Boston Celtics have to give up in a trade for P.J. Washington

Quick aside, Doug McDermott would be attainable if the Boston Celtics were willing to give up Derrick White in the deal. Being that White was acquired from the Spurs less than a year ago, that is a highly unlikely outcome.

Anyway, when it comes to Washington, he’d fit under the Dennis Schroder trade exception and could be available if the Cs would be willing to offer up a future first-round pick. They’ll have several to offer with only the 2023 pick off limits from the Malcolm Brogdon trade.

Alternatively, Boston could package Payton Pritchard and another minimum salary to get a deal done without any draft picks. Pritchard has arguably been playing his way into the team’s long-term plans with his recent outings.

Washington is possibly the biggest splash the team could hunt for. If Brad Stevens and co. were to land him, the 2023 trade deadline would be yet another win for the front office — which has been a winner for two straight offseasons and last year’s deadline sandwiched inbetween.