3 players the Boston Celtics should pursue before the trade deadline
No. 2: Jarred Vanderbilt
The Danny Ainge connection would definitely be beneficial for the Boston Celtics in this situation, especially when it comes to Jarred Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt has been one of the standout players for the overachieving Utah Jazz this season after the Minnesota Timberwolves dealt him in the Rudy Gobert trade. In 52 games, he is dropping 8.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and a steal in 24.1 minutes a night.
The 23-year old forward showcases plenty of size and length, presenting himself as a valuable player at the defensive end and a strong presence inside the paint with his rebounding ability. According to Basketball Reference, he possesses one of the best offensive ratings at 125 and defensive ratings at 112 per 100 possessions on the team.
Vanderbilt is on a team-friendly deal, earning over $4 million per year as he signed the original with Minnesota in 2021. He would be expected to see a bigger contract once his current one expires after the 2023-24 campaign.
Barstool Sports reporter and fellow Celtic supporter Dan Greenberg made an interesting proposal on how Boston could nab Vanderbilt from Utah: sending Payton Pritchard, the Schroder TPE, and a certain number of draft picks to convince Ainge to accept the offer.
Dennis TPE/Pritchard/whatever picks it takes to make Ainge say yes for Vanderbilt ($4M)
— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) January 31, 2023
Why does that make so much sense in my head pic.twitter.com/10AP0bWrwg
While Ainge will want to hang onto the young talented forward for Utah’s rebuilding phase, he might once again entertain the idea of helping his beloved franchise strengthen their chances for title contention by providing the skills Vanderbilt brings to the table.