While the Celtics are in the thick of trade rumors heading into the 2025 NBA Draft, some players haven’t found themselves as part of the discussion as much. Guys like Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Sam Hauser have been linked to teams this summer as potential movable blocks.
Others like Derrick White and Jaylen Brown have also been named in speculation, though it’s within the context of the Celtics are listening to any and all offers. But according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, as expected, some of those guys are hypothetically available, though the Celtics would need a haul back in any deal.
“Boston is believed to be open to listening to any player on its roster not named Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown,” Fischer wrote. “I’d put Payton Pritchard and Derrick White right behind those two franchise cornerstones as extremely hard-to-get as well."
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Celtics are getting offers for White and Brown, though the viability of any trade is a different question. Both starters are cornerstone pieces for the Celtics, including during the 2024 NBA title run.
Pritchard also hasn’t been in many trade rumors over the past few weeks, and for good reason. He’s coming off a breakout season where he was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year. Pritchard averaged career-highs with 14.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He also shot 40.7% on 7.8 3-pointers per game.
Part of the equation for Pritchard, too, is his contract. He signed a four-year, $30 million extension with the Celtics, which is looking like a bargain deal. He’s signed through the 2027-28 season and is set to make a $7.2 million salary next season. Considering his production — especially on offense — that’s one of the best contracts in the league. The Celtics are also bound to lean on Pritchard with Tatum out for the foreseeable future due to his ruptured Achilles tendon.
The Celtics are going to make some deals in the coming weeks. While the likelihood of a core player getting traded doesn’t seem high, the front office has made surprise deals in the past. At the end of the day, it’ll depend on what kind of return the Celtics get as they mull through their options on the trade market.