Spurs proposal is slight overpay but can be considered by Boston Celtics

Air Alamo’s Cal Durrett came up with a trade proposal involving the Boston Celtics and Spurs that would see the Cs land Doug McDermott for Payton Pritchard, a 2025 first-round draft pick, Mike Muscala, and Danilo Gallinari — a deal that would be a slight overpay for Boston but one that would still be considered by an aggressive front office.

Why exactly would Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens and the rest of the front office consider such an aggressive offer for a player on the wrong side of 30 who didn’t start once during the 2022-23 season for one of the league’s worst teams, you may ask?

That answer is twofold.

Doug McDermott could be a Grant Williams hedge for the Boston Celtics

The Celtics’ 2019 draft class was one that seemed to be brimming with potential, but it seemed as though Carsen Edwards or Tremont Waters would be the breakout of the bunch. Grant Williams missed his first 25 3-point attempts in his rookie season, a shock to scouts who figured his shot would be how he’d become an offensive threat given his shorter stature relative to most at the power forward spot. Eventually, Williams would figure it out, raising his 3-point conversion rate to 37% his second year, and then 41% his third year. In 2022-23, that number dipped back to 39%, but it was clear the Tennessee product earned his keep in the rotation.

Unfortunately, his ascension may cause his departure, since restricted free agency could see teams make an aggressive offer for Williams.

Enter McDermott. The Creighton legend could slide into the same role while making several million less. McDermott has never played on a true contender in his career, but he could bring a solidified skillset to a team that badly needs it should the Celtics bring him on via trade this offseason.

Brad Stevens has never been gunshy about adding win-now pieces to the Boston Celtics

Should the Celtics come close but come away with no cigar for the second straight postseason, whether that be in the form of a Finals or conference finals loss, Stevens and the rest of Boston’s front office would likely do whatever it’d take to add the pieces necessary to take the Cs over the top once and for all.

Giving up a draft pick for a win-now veteran bench player is something he’s done already with the acquisitions of Al Horford, Derrick White, and Malcolm Brogdon since taking over. Doing the same with McDermott is particularly easy to envision given the White trade was agreed upon between Stevens and Spurs president Gregg Popovich.