Boston Celtics guard who wants out a ‘buy low’ candidate for lottery team

Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard, who has reiterated a trade demand to another franchise in search of a bigger role, could be a “buy low” candidate for the Dallas Mavericks — this, at least, according to The Smoking Cuban’s Noah Weber.

“If the Celtics end up looking to trade Pritchard, Dallas should only look to make the move if they can buy low,” Weber wrote. “He would be their lead ball handler off the bench and would have the chance to prove himself as he is in a contract year.”

Pritchard is the best young asset the Cs have on their current roster. The key to Boston making a significant upgrade without touching the team’s core would be pairing Pritchard with at least one future draft pick.

Payton Pritchard is definitely not going to remain with the Boston Celtics

The seismic egg laid in Game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals will be the catalyst for a number of changes during the offseason. Joe Mazzulla being replaced as Boston Celtics head coach is off the table considering Brad Stevens’ recent endorsement of the Rhode Island native, but the roster isn’t safe.

Pritchard, in particular, seems certain to find a new home. His mid-February trade request preceded the team’s precipitous decline in late February/early March, and his reassertion that he needs a new NBA home to prosper makes a departure a very likely proposition.

While his 2022 postseason performance was highly important in the C’s rise to the top of the Eastern Conference, the Malcolm Brogdon deal in the ensuing offseason took away his role in the backcourt. His minimal role in the 2023 postseason only solidified his unclear direction under Mazzulla.

As the Celtics look to overcome and outdo an underwhelming Mazzulla’s opening act follow-up to Ime Udoka’s one-and-done Eastern Conference championship campaign, Pritchard looms large as the team’s primary trade chip to making that happen. His presence in a trade wouldn’t be the only thing needed for Boston to ascend, but it’d undoubtedly be needed.