The Celtics have reportedly been in trade talks ahead of the NBA Draft and they involve the current roster's four point guards, according to MassLive's Brian Robb.
Per Robb's report, the C's "have been one of the more active teams in the league in trade talks ahead of Thursday's draft," citing a league source.
Malcolm Brogdon is one name that's been floating around in the beginning stages of the offseason. Yahoo! Sports' Jake Fischer, reports that the Phoenix Suns are interested in the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, while the Celtics are "evaluating" trade avenues to upgrade their frontcourt.
A trade involving Brogdon to the Suns would be a tall task to pull off without a possible third team. As it stands, Phoenix only has seven players on their roster for the upcoming season under contract, which includes Chris Paul -- who the Suns have yet to determine whether they want to guarantee the final $15 million of his $30.8 million by June 28 or simply waive him.
Phoenix could also fully guarantee the remainder of Paul's salary with the intention of moving him via a trade and that could potentially open up a Brogdon-to-Phoenix deal. Brogdon is set to make $22.5 million next season and with both teams over the salary cap, neither can take more than 125% over the salary than what they're sending out.
Still, NBA insider Marc Stein is reporting that out of Brogdon, Marcus Smart, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard -- Brogdon is the "most likely" of the four guards to be traded this summer.
"Word is the most likely of the group to be dealt, entering the weekend, was Malcolm Brogdon rather than Marcus Smart, Derrick White or Payton Pritchard," Stein wrote.
With Brogdon's history of health issues over the last few season and the NBA's new CBA set to kick in the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign, the former Rookie of the Year's value may have taken a hit.
If the Celtics do retain Brogdon, there is always Payton Pritchard -- who has expressed he wants to be traded and the Suns have also reportedly shown interest in recently.
"Payton Pritchard, the former first-round pick who fell out of Boston's rotation, has several supporters in Phoenix's front office, sources said, and is expected to feature prominently in the NBA's general trade landscape this summer, when Pritchard becomes extension eligible," Jake Fischer reported last week.
There wouldn't be much of a return for Pritchard's $4 million salary, except trimming some of the team's salary cap and it would ensure the depth chart at point guard surrounding the three-headed monster of Brogdon, White and Smart -- who could all be starters on any team in the league right now.
With Jaylen Brown's pending supermax extension and Grant Williams upcoming restricted free agency, the Celtics will look to make efforts to surround their All-NBA wings of Brown and Jayson Tatum with a good supporting cast without also breaking the bank within the next few years.
In the meantime, Brogdon's average of 14.9 points and 3.7 assists per contest this season, all off the bench may be too good of an offer to pass up for any team seeking his services.
Joel Pavón
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