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Proposed trade breaks up Boston Celtics bench for Lauri Markannen

By Andrew Hughes

This Lauri Markkanen trade proposal would give up too much of what helped the Boston Celtics become a contender
This Lauri Markkanen trade proposal would give up too much of what helped the Boston Celtics become a contender / Alex Goodlett/GettyImages
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Fadeaway World's Eddie Bitar believes the Boston Celtics would become dynastic with the acquisition of Lauri Markkanen from the Utah Jazz; which is run by Cs President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens' former boss, Danny Ainge.

Bitar also believes giving up Al Horford, Payton Pritchard, and Sam Hauser, not to mention several first-round picks and a second-round pick, would be the appropriate price to make such a deal happen.

"At just 26 years old, he is entering his prime and has proven himself as a versatile forward who can stretch the floor, protect the rim, and defend multiple positions," Bitar prefaced before saying, "This trade ensures the Celtics get a long-term replacement for the aging Al Horford (8.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG), who has been exceptional for Boston but is 38 years old and counting. Adding Markkanen aligns perfectly with the Celtics' need to maintain their competitive edge while planning for the future."

Breaking up the Boston Celtics' bench makes no sense after Finals run

Horford will have helped the Celtics win a title, stepping in for an injured Kristaps Porzingis, just to be traded immediately by a PBO who made it a priority to re-acquire him during his first month in charge. That's too evil and utilitarian and would likely upset the locker room.

So pass on that.

Pritchard struggled during the Finals and has not been much of a factor during the playoffs at large, so if anyone would be traded, it'd be him. That's highly doubtful given his role in the team's overall story, and he's on a bargain bin deal.

Hauser is due for an extension in 2025, so trading him would be done to avoid any more tax penalties once he re-signs.

The proposal from Fadeaway World isn't legal with the Cs unable to aggregate more than two players' salaries as a team maximally penalized by the league's CBA, but the idea of seeing Horford and Pritchard packaged for anyone isn't all that likely.

The most likely combination of players being traded is Pritchard and Hauser, and that's probably not all that likely either.

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