The Boston Celtics may be one of the least interesting teams in the league right now from a trade perspective. They just aren’t going to make any big moves, and it’s because they don’t need to. If Boston decides to do nothing by the time the deadline rolls around, they will still be a top contender come playoff time.
That said, there’s a good chance the Celtics will make a move of some sort. Boston’s core will undoubtedly remain the same, but the team could change a bit on the fringes. Considering how deep into the tax they are, expect them to explore some moves that could lighten the load in that regard.
And if/when that happens, there is one move the Celtics need to make.
Celtics need to trade Jaden Springer and sign Drew Peterson
Back when Lonnie Walker IV was fighting for a roster spot in Boston, there were some rumblings that the Celtics were searching for a landing spot for Jaden Springer. They wanted to offload him in order to make space for Walker.
That didn’t happen, so Springer is still on the team, but he hasn’t been a part of the rotation at all. It seems more than likely that the Celtics at least explore a Springer move again, and when they do, they should elevate Drew Peterson from a two-way contract to a standard contract.
Replacing Springer with Peterson on the 15-man roster would be a huge upgrade for the Celtics.
Peterson has been solid in his appearances with the Celtics this season. Though he hasn’t been super efficient, all of the little things he’s done on the court have been impressive.
“He's just always ready to play,” Joe Mazzulla said at a recent practice. “He's relatively fearless. I mean, I like some of the in-traffic rebounds that he got yesterday. So, he's ready to play, has an understanding of our system on both ends of the floor, and competes at a high level.”
Peterson is an effective three-point shooter, an above-average rebounder for his height and build, a decent defender, and very capable of putting the ball on the floor and making plays for himself and others.
At 25 years old, Peterson is still capable of improving, and this is just his first full year in the Celtics’ system, as they signed him to a two-way deal mid-way through last year.
Adding Peterson on a standard deal seems like a no-brainer this trade season, especially if they can move Springer’s contract.