5 Moves Celtics should make after Kristaps Porzingis trade
By Tyler Watts
3. Find another ball-handler
Losing Marcus Smart leaves the Celtics without a starting point guard. Reserve guard Payton Pritchard’s future is up in the air. He wants more playing time, which should be available with Smart in Memphis. Does Boston make him their starter or do they roll with Derrick White at the one and beef up? The Celtics need to find another playmaker either way.
They had issues in the playoffs, especially in their Game 7 loss to the Heat with Jayson Tatum and Malcolm Brogdon injured. Brogdon was nearly traded to the Clippers, and the Celtics could explore other packages to move him this summer. Kristaps Porzingis does little to solve their shot creation issues.
Can the Celtics find another ball-handler and playmaker? They will not have cap space to acquire one in free agency, but they should be searching the trade market for someone that can help. Boston does not need a true point guard, but finding another secondary option could help them tremendously in the postseason.
Can the Celtics land the right option? It won’t be easy. Teams are never eager to part with ball handlers, especially ones on cheap contracts. Boston could look to trade Robert Williams for one, but that could create a depth issue on the wing behind Tatum and Jaylen Brown, especially with Grant Williams departing in free agency.
The Boston Celtics could sign a backup point guard for the veteran minimum in free agency, but he may struggle to stick in the rotation in the playoffs. Stay tuned to see how they address this issue.