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Al Horford and Payton Pritchard the most likely trade candidates for Boston Celtics this offseason

By Andrew Hughes

May 9, 2022; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42), right yells out after
May 9, 2022; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42), right yells out after / Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
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Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz tabbed Al Horford and Payton Pritchard as the most likely offseason trade candidates for the Boston Celtics should they not hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy at the end of the 2024 postseason; settling on Pritchard as the top trade candidate over Horford.

"The hot takes will fly if the Boston Celtics fall short of winning a championship this year, and there are bound to be some 'Should Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown be split up?' questions if they choke at some point," Swartz wrote.

"For now, we're assuming this entire core (Tatum, Brown, Kristaps Porziņģis, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday) is coming back following a 64-win regular season. This leaves Al Horford and Payton Pritchard as the most likely to be shopped."

Truthfully, neither are particularly likely to be shopped even if the Cs fall short. Horford is a locker room staple whose absence would create the same leadership void his first departure in 2019 caused, while Pritchard looks like one of the best bargains in the entire league. Ditto for Sam Hauser, who is outperforming his $2 million salary.

There is a far more plausible option the Celtics would pursue this offseason if they fall short, though, and it doesn't involve a trade.

Joe Mazzulla could be the one to go if Boston Celtics don't win it all

Boston's roster is too good to bail on, but if they don't win it all, the Massholes will gather en masse and call for a change of some sort. If that happens, the change may end up being at the top -- with a switch at head coach.

Firing Joe Mazzulla could be the move given his struggles to close the door on inferior teams -- think the 2023 playoffs with both the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers series -- and his inability to outcoach Erik Spoelstra in that year's Eastern Conference Finals.

Those issues haven't come up in 2024, with the Cs excising the Heat demon in the first round, but if Boston doesn't win it all, the fingers will be pointed at Jiu-Jitsu Joe.

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