Celtics’ Top Three Trade Assets Identified, With Two Notable Omissions
It’s NBA trade season! The deadline is exactly 50 days away, and the Boston Celtics may or may not be involved in a big way, according to Brad Stevens.
On Wednesday, Bleacher Report’s NBA writer Dan Favale labeled the Celtics as sellers heading into deadline festivities. You can’t fault Favale’s take in that respect, with Stevens having been in a selling mindset dating back to the offseason.
With that in mind, if the Celtics did choose to trade someone, who are their top three trade assets right now? Favale identified these three players: Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Jordan Walsh.
Interestingly, neither Anfernee Simons nor Sam Hauser were included in Favale’s write-up, despite both of those guys being many pundits’ main trade chips for Boston for most of the season.
“Derrick White remains the hottest asset Boston employs if it’s looking to load up the draft cupboard while knifing into operating costs,” Favale wrote. “The Celtics should be able to get multiple first-rounders if they’re willing to move him.”
“Pritchard is under contract through 2027-28 and will never earn even five percent of the salary cap,” Favale continued. “His meld of shooting, ball-handling, rebounding at his position and defensive effort is worth first-round equity as well. Sam Hauser slips from the third and final spot thanks to some blasé shooting and a smaller role than expected. Walsh offers far more curb appeal as someone who is hustling his way to made threes and rebounds and can defend most positions on the floor.”
The 15-11 Celtics will resume their season on Friday night when they host the Miami Heat at TD Garden.