Celtics Guard's Recent Trade Request Could Be Fulfilled By Jazz
The Boston Celtics found themselves falling short of their NBA title hopes on Monday, and it seems as if the player rumors and movement won’t be waiting for anyone. Celtics guard Payton Pritchard voices his desire to be traded from the organization this offseason, as he’ll look to join the second team of his career this offseason.
It's not too often you see players with the reputation of being a role player rather than a star publicly requesting trades. Pritchard breaks that mold, and the Utah Jazz could find some value in him.
Pritchard's only 25, and with three years of playoff experience under a stable organization like the Celtics, it's something worth noting to give him an enhanced opportunity elsewhere. In the small glimpses we saw within this year’s playoffs, Payton was efficient offensively, shooting 54/40/80 splits in 57 total minutes.
Guard depth is something always important for teams around the league, especially those who can create offense at a high clip. Pritchard on the Jazz would likely have more minutes available to him, hopefully resulting in seeing more of that efficiency in use.
Utah is looking at important guards Jordan Clarkson and Talen Horton-Tucker facing player options this summer, so investing in a low-risk option at the position could be a wise move from Danny Ainge. Considering Ainge was also a part of the Boston front office that drafted him in 2020, some lingering intrigue could entice the Jazz to make a move.
While it doesn’t seem like the Celtics would seem to contest Pritchard’s request as of now, we’ll have to wait as the offseason continues to progress to see how this story develops.
Follow Inside The Jazz on Facebook and Twitter.
Subscribe on YouTube for breaking Jazz news videos and live-stream podcasts!