6 Best trade targets to boost Celtics title odds
The Celtics are in the market for bench help, and some intriguing names will be available.
By Tyler Watts
The Boston Celtics face a championship or bust season. They remade their roster and have arguably the best top six in the NBA. After five conference finals appearances in the last seven years, the franchise is hungry for banner 18, but may need a bit more help.
Shams Charania made it clear that Boston plans to aggressively search for bench help. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford are locked in as their top six, but the Celtics need a seventh and eighth for their playoff rotation. Sam Hauser may fill one of those roles, but the final piece needs to come from the outside.
Boston has draft capital to trade but is light on matching salaries. They will need to find the right piece. Expect plenty of movement and chatter ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline, but who could the Celtics realistically acquire?
6. T.J. McConnell
McConnell often comes up in trade rumors. The 6’1 guard has struggled to get consistent minutes in Indiana this season but remains a strong playmaker. He will never be a lockdown defender, but McConnell competes hard and is not afraid to do the little things that help his team win.
The Celtics signed Payton Pritchard to a four-year $32 million extension before the start of the regular season, but he has failed to lock down the backup point guard role. Pritchard is more of a score-first option. Does Boston view McConnell as an upgrade? He offers more playmaking and defense than Pritchard, but the Celtics could search for someone capable of playing more or adding some size.
T.J. McConnell will be available before the deadline. The 31-year-old is on an $8.7 million contract for this season and has $5.0 million guaranteed for the 2024-25 campaign. The Pacers could be convinced to move on if the Boston Celtics are willing to give up some draft capital.