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Proposed trade sends Boston Celtics $160 million combo forward

By Andrew Hughes

A proposed trade from NBA Analysis Network would send the Boston Celtics a $160 million combo forward who just signed a five-year contract Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
A proposed trade from NBA Analysis Network would send the Boston Celtics a $160 million combo forward who just signed a five-year contract Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jerami Grant, fresh off of signing a five-year, $160 million extension with the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2023 offseason, would land with the Boston Celtics in a blockbuster three-for-one mock trade proposal. Al Horford, Robert Williams III, and Payton Pritchard would be sent to the Rose City in NBA Analysis Network’s proposal. James Piercey explained how this deal would be a “no-brainer” for the Celtics.

“By contrast (to R. Williams), Grant is an iron man,” Piercey prefaced before saying, “He’s also a much better offensive player. Grant is a reliable floor spacer who can create his own shot. He’s also got some defensive value, if less than Williams III. The Celtics could decide that he’s worth the trade-off.

“Otherwise, this is a no-brainer for Boston. Pritchard is due for an extension next summer, and Boston is unlikely to pay him. Horford is aging – in last year’s playoffs, it started to show. Replacing him with Grant should make them a much better team – even if it makes their summer a bit busier.”

The Boston Celtics would be undisputed losers of a Jerami Grant trade

Portland wouldn’t be getting much in the way of value by landing the oft-injured Williams, the aging Horford, and the soon-to-be-extended Pritchard. The two bigs hold infinitely more value to the Boston Celtics than any other franchise, while Pritchard plays a position of extreme need (point guard) for a Cs squad that just offloaded its starter, Marcus Smart, and nearly traded away the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Malcolm Brogdon.

Grant’s salary could age well considering the rising salary cap, but a career sub-36% 3-point shooter isn’t worth tying up any remaining salary cap flexibility with the large contracts owned by Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis.

Simply put, adding Grant to that trio doesn’t make this team an instant contender. Giving up the supporting cast that helped the Cs get to where they are is bad business.

And Brad Stevens isn’t about bad business.

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