Hardwood Houdini
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Grade the Trade: Boston Celtics give up major assets for gamble at point guard

By Andrew Hughes

Hardwood Houdini plays "Grade the Trade" with a mock proposal that would send the Boston Celtics a gamble at the PG spot -- and for major assets to boot Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Hardwood Houdini plays "Grade the Trade" with a mock proposal that would send the Boston Celtics a gamble at the PG spot -- and for major assets to boot Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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A mock trade proposal from Fadeaway World’s Lee Tran would see the Boston Celtics give up major assets like Robert Williams III and Payton Pritchard to acquire Kevin Porter Jr. from the Houston Rockets as well as a Miami Heat second-round pick via the Dallas Mavericks — this all in a four-team blockbuster aimed at taking a risk for a “relatively low cost.”

“This deal means the Boston Celtics would be taking a risk on Kevin Porter Jr.’s talent for a relatively low cost,” Tran prefaced before saying, “His ability makes it worth it, and he could be the missing piece for them to win a championship.”

The full cost, per Dallas Basketball’s Dalton Trigg, is as follows:

"“Dallas Mavericks Receive: Buddy Hield, Robert Williams. Boston Celtics Receive: Kevin Porter Jr., 2028 Second-Round Pick (MIA via DAL). Indiana Pacers Receive: Christian Wood, Payton Pritchard. Houston Rockets Receive: Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Green.”"

To contradict a point Tran made, there is a major cost in the aforementioned trade scenario: two of the best assets Boston has to get better and continue to add talent around a win-now roster of Supermax contract-holder Jaylen Brown, soon-to-be-Supermax contract-holder Jayson Tatum, and recently-extended marquee offseason trade addition Kristaps Porzingis. But how does the actual return grade out?

Trade grade for the Boston Celtics: C-

Williams was part of the NBA’s best lineup two seasons ago, and that lineup had a critical run during the C’s 2023 postseason second-round matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers; a series that went seven games. Losing him robs the lineup of the frontcourt riches Brad Stevens traded for when he landed Porzingis. Pritchard is more expendable, but he is a more efficient backcourt option than Porter.

This brings the Houdini to the meat and potatoes of the explanation for the low grade of Tran’s four-team proposal: there’s too much risk and likely not enough reward. Porter is not a championship talent at this point in his career, and the Celtics need as many championship-caliber role players as possible. Porter is at a point in his career where he needs plenty of trial-and-error opportunities, but Boston can’t be letting their championship window close by bringing such a player along.

It’s a no from this writer, dawg.

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