The pros and cons of trading Payton Pritchard

For the second straight season, Payton Pritchard is dealing with an uphill battle for any significant taking part in time. Final yr, it was Dennis Schroder. This season, Malcolm Brogdon. As a third-year guard within the NBA, Pritchard has clawed for each minute of taking part in time and confirmed able to being a second-string level guard on a extremely aggressive group when given the possibility.

Proper now, although, the Boston Celtics‘ guard rotation doesn’t give such alternatives, and Pritchard suffers due to that. Maybe that’s why there’s such a big part of the fanbase that may be prepared to see Pritchard packaged in a commerce, not as a result of he doesn’t possess the expertise to be an impactful participant for the Celtics, however quite as a result of he’s too good for the position he at the moment occupies.

In spite of everything, we’re speaking a couple of profession 40.6% three-point shooter with a high-level deal with and uncanny means to inject tempo right into a rotation when checking into video games. Put merely, Pritchard is a baller. It’s simply the Celtics have loads of ballers at his place. Marcus Good, Malcolm Brogdon, and Derrick White are all forward of Pritchard within the rotation, they usually all have a number of years left on their present contracts, so it’s clear there’s no room for Pritchard to search out gaps within the rotation to plug.

Photograph by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe through Getty Photos

Maybe the fairest factor to do is to set Pritchard free through a commerce, permitting him to land on a roster that has a real want for his skillset, giving him the extra sport time he deserves and must proceed creating as a participant. Nonetheless, what’s honest for Pritchard might be not what’s greatest for the Celtics, at the very least this season.

Having a dependable guard as your “break glass in case of emergency” choice is a luxurious few groups can boast. We’re speaking a couple of participant who’s solely seeing minutes when it’s rubbish time or when somebody within the rotation is out for no matter motive. This is similar guard who averaged 12.9 minutes per sport over 24 post-season contests en path to the NBA Finals.

Clearly, there are execs and cons to probably permitting Pritchard to maneuver on earlier than the February commerce deadline, and there isn’t a clear-cut reply as to what the right transfer is each from a group and participant standpoint. So, let’s make a fast listing of all the great and dangerous that might come from waving farewell to Pritchard.

The professionals

• Any commerce involving Pritchard would possible be so as to add depth elsewhere on the roster, that means the Celtics can be resolving a weak point on both the wing or by upgrading their backup middle place.
• You may slide JD Davison into Pritchard’s present position and permit a younger, athletically proficient guard to have some reputable growth minutes on the NBA degree when video games are out of attain or when somebody is sitting out.
• There’s much less strain on the teaching workers to attempt to discover sufficient reps for Pritchard to stay comfy sufficient to provide when referred to as upon.
• It’s higher to get one thing in return for Pritchard than maintain him on the bench till his contract expires and lose him for nothing.

The cons

• From a group standpoint, having a participant of Pritchard’s caliber as the first backup guard within the rotation is an unbelievable signal of depth.
• Joe Mazzulla clearly favors a high-volume three-point capturing group, which feels completely suited to Pritchard’s skillset and taking part in fashion. If he’s ever wanted for a protracted stretch within the rotation, there’s a superb likelihood he excels as soon as he finds his rhythm.
• Pritchard is incomes $2.2 million this season, which is an insignificant quantity in NBA phrases, particularly when wanting so as to add depth through commerce. One of the best Boston may hope for is utilizing a TPE to accumulate a task participant or depth piece whereas sending Pritchard out as a sweetener within the deal. Fairly frankly, Pritchard is healthier than that, and in contrast to any potential incoming participant, has confirmed his means to step into the rotation and carry out for the Celtics.
• You may by no means have too many ball-handling shooters off the bench, particularly ones on low-cost contracts. However most significantly, how usually do you get a younger guard with NBA Finals expertise on a contract under $3 million?

There’s no proper or fallacious reply to the query of whether or not Pritchard ought to stay with the Celtics for the rest of the season and even the rest of his contract — all of it is determined by your present outlook on Boston’s roster and its wants. For some, the depth and expertise Pritchard gives shall be seen as invaluable, whereas others will consider his age and scoring means make him a fascinating commerce chip to help Boston’s trigger in rounding out their front-court rotation and/or depth.

Personally, I’m of the assumption that doing what’s greatest for a participant’s profession is at all times the suitable transfer, particularly when you have got the expertise to cowl any hole their potential departure may trigger. Pritchard has confirmed himself within the NBA, as is clearly able to being the first guard off the bench for nearly any group within the league, so he ought to be afforded that chance. In spite of everything, gamers work extremely laborious to make it into the NBA within the first place, so if the expertise is there, they usually’ve confirmed themselves at each flip, protecting them buried on the bench is unfair once you take a look at it from a human standpoint.

I’m not saying I need the Celtics to commerce Pritchard. I’m saying that if a chance arises that may strengthen a entrance court docket place for the Celtics and provides Pritchard a much bigger position elsewhere, then I want to see Brad Stevens discover that risk, not just for the group, however for Pritchard’s profession prospects, too.