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Boston Celtics trade scenario with Nets would be a reverse Billy King for Cs

By Andrew Hughes

The Brooklyn Nets would present an UNO! reverse Billy King card to the Boston Celtics if a trade scenario from NBA Analysis Network came to light Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
The Brooklyn Nets would present an UNO! reverse Billy King card to the Boston Celtics if a trade scenario from NBA Analysis Network came to light Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Boston Celtics would reverse Billy King themselves in a losing trade scenario with the Brooklyn Nets that would swap locker room leader Al Horford and Payton Pritchard for Dorian Finney Smith — this in a proposal pitched by NBA Analysis Network.

Sure, in this scenario the Cs would again be sending away the aging vet to the Nets, so that aspect of the deal would honor the infamous 2013 Kevin Garnett/Paul Pierce Brooklyn transaction. But this time around, the deal would be seen as a clear loss for the green corner; one that would eradicate the two most prolific role players from the past two years’ Finals and Eastern Conference Finals runs after Marcus Smart was traded by the franchise in June.

All in all, this is a hard pass. Finney-Smith would be a reserve forward replacing both a starter and a guard in Pritchard who is finally in a position to show what he can do with Smart out the door and Malcolm Brogdon having been in the original Kristaps Poringis trade arrangement and on the way out next. Brad Stevens has little reason to consider such a deal, with almost every plausible trade alternative to strengthen the fringes around the star nucleus of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and now, Porzingis being superior.

A Payton Pritchard extension could be a good investment for the Boston Celtics

One of the only on-paper positives of the aforementioned swap, besides trading a 37-year-old for a 30-year-old who plays the same position, would be avoiding Pritchard’s next payday. A big 2023-24 contract year could be what earns the Oregon native a generational payday.

On the flip side, though, Boston could give Pritchard an extension in the $7-9 million per year range over a three or four-year period to send a clear signal that the former Duck finally has a role in the C’s backcourt. That’d be the best hedge against a rising cap in the (likely) event Pritchard ends up outplaying that salary figure.

So all in all, there’s not a single positive that could come with the arrangement as is.

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