Rising east playoff contender a threat to nab 2 recent Celtics first-round picks in offseason
The Boston Celtics could see a rising playoff contender in the east take two of their most recent first-round draft picks in the offseason, as it’s been revealed the Magic reportedly had an interest in acquiring Payton Pritchard at the trade deadline per Heavy’s Sean Deveney — this after it had previously been reported by Deveney that the Magic were one of the teams interested in signing Grant Williams to an offer sheet.
Deveney’s latest intel was focused on Pritchard, who reportedly had interest from Orlando, Cleveland, and Utah at the deadline. Of course, the Jazz organization is run by former Celtics general manager Danny Ainge, who drafted Pritchard during the backend of the 2020 NBA draft’s first round.
Williams, meanwhile, will have interest from rebuilding teams in the Spurs, the Pistons, and the Magic. Orlando is in the thick of the NBA Play-in and has surged forward after the first month and a half of the 2022-23 season, but is young enough to still be in the rebuilding category.
Payton Pritchard was hopeful for a trade from the Boston Celtics
It was a disappointment for Pritchard not to get a chance for more minutes after the 2023 trade deadline. Boston neither traded away Pritchard, nor did they move one of the guards in the backcourt ahead of him on the depth chart.
“I definitely was expecting and hoping [for a trade],” Pritchard told the Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn (subscription required). “But you know, I [have to] look at the good things. We’re the best team in the NBA right now and we have a great team with really great players, so for me it’s an opportunity to learn and to keep growing.”
Pritchard likes Boston, but he doesn’t like that the team’s win-now intentions are getting in the way of his playing time. Expect Pritchard to be the primary piece for the Celtics to improve their bottom line this coming offseason.
Grant Williams may have priced himself out of Boston
Four years at a total $50 million price point was the offer Williams turned down from the Celtics this past offseason, per The Athletic’s Jared Weiss (subscription required). Depending on how things go in the postseason, that offer may not be on the table again.
With Danilo Gallinari returning by the beginning of next season, the need to retain Williams isn’t dire. Gallinari could end up costing a fraction of what No. 12 would. That makes the possibility of Williams signing elsewhere so viable.
What his market ends up being is unknown, but young teams looking for postseason experience can find a player on their core’s timeline in Williams.