Only a few weeks into the offseason, and it’s already been a summer time of change for the Boston Celtics. They traded long-time fan favorite Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team deal for Kristaps Porzingis, utterly altering the crew’s basis.
The transfer despatched shockwaves all through Celtics Nation, as followers instantly cried out for the center and soul of the crew to return, criticizing the transfer by way of green-colored goggles.
Porzingis’ addition to the lineup will undoubtedly assist Boston push ahead, as the previous All-Star put up profession numbers final season, and whereas Sensible’s departure will proceed to sting, Derrick White and Malcolm Brogdon are ready within the wings to step up.
Nonetheless, regardless of Brad Stevens’ supposed confidence in Brogdon’s skills heading into subsequent season, bringing him again into the fold is an eyebrow-raiser. That’s to not say Brogdon isn’t succesful. He’s coming off a Sixth Man of the 12 months season. Having him in Boston enjoying that function once more can be nice, however how does he really feel about it?
Possibly Brogdon is a whole skilled and can overlook in regards to the previous week’s occasions, however for about 5 hours, he was traded. The Celtics shipped him off the LA Clippers in a Porzingis commerce that by no means occurred. And with the stories that Boston isn’t carried out making strikes, there’s an opportunity he’s nonetheless traded.
That will sound like a scary proposition contemplating Sensible is already gone. Going from three starting-caliber guards to at least one is an enormous shift, nevertheless it may very well be made attainable by the true winner of the Sensible commerce, Payton Pritchard.
For the previous yr, it was a secure assumption that Pritchard wouldn’t be on the Celtics by the beginning of the 2023-24 season. He spent the whole lot of this previous yr glued to the bench, used sparingly in moments when Boston wanted a spark.
The offseason started with rumblings that Pritchard could be on his way out of Boston, however now, it seems like he might obtain an elevated function within the Celtics’ offense.
Assuming Derrick White takes over the beginning function, the Celtics ought to really feel snug having Pritchard as the first backup level guard subsequent season. In the event that they commerce Brogdon, including a third-string man can be mandatory, but when Stevens feels additional assistance on the wing is extra necessary than Brogdon, Pritchard will likely be prepared and succesful.
A season of sitting on the sidelines could have some forgetting what Pritchard is able to. His three-point proportion dropped this previous yr, however that was merely a byproduct of his inconsistent enjoying time. If a shooter isn’t given minutes to generate a night-to-night rhythm, his contact will fade.
In his first two seasons within the league during which he performed at the very least 65 video games annually, Pritchard shot 41.1% and 41.2% from deep, respectively. That’s the definition of consistency, particularly contemplating he tried nearly the identical variety of pictures (248 3PA his rookie season, 245 3PA his sophomore season).
Pritchard’s numbers are on par, or higher, than the typical backup level guard within the NBA. Throughout his rookie season, when he performed simply over 19 minutes an evening, Pritchard averaged 7.7 factors, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per recreation.
This previous yr, solely six backup level guards (min. 65 video games performed off the bench) put up these numbers or higher whereas coming off the bench – Brogdon, Immanuel Quickley, TJ McConnell, Cole Anthony, and Coby White – and solely 10 guards achieved the feat in any respect.
Clearly, if the Celtics determine to commerce Brogdon, bringing in additional guards will likely be necessary. Operating with White and Pritchard as the one guards on the roster isn’t an excellent gameplan. However Pritchard can be a high-quality selection for the backup function, offering Stevens with some respiratory room concerning who he targets in potential trades.
Boston entered final season with a glutton of guards, and all year long, it turned clear that the cluster got here at the price of positional variance throughout the roster. Now, they’re being compelled to clear issues up.
However the truth that they’d so many succesful guards means they now have loads of commerce belongings to work with, and contemplating Brogdon’s contract and worth, he’s the logical selection if the Celtics determine to make one other commerce.
Possibly that commerce includes Pritchard. But when it doesn’t, and if Brogdon is the one to go, the Celtics ought to really feel nice sliding Pritchard into the full-time backup level guard function.
