The latest Celtics trade rumor has them ‘exploring’ moving some significant players

The Boston Celtics are in a bit of a rare spot as the NBA Trade Deadline approaches. Normally teams high in the standings (and nobody is higher than the Celtics and their NBA-best 38-16 record) aren’t looking to move contributing players. However, the Celtics are so deep they have the luxury of exploring that opportunity.

According to a new report, that’s exactly what they’re doing. Yahoo’s Jake Fischer tweeted on Wednesday that “Boston has been exploring the combined outgoing value of Danilo Gallinari and Payton Pritchard, sources said, as the Celtics search for center reinforcements.”

• Boston has been exploring the combined outgoing value of Danilo Gallinari and Payton Pritchard, sources said, as the Celtics search for center reinforcements. Two names of big men that match that outgoing salary: Jakob Poeltl and Mo Bamba.

  — Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) February 8, 2023

• This isn’t the first time there’s been a trade rumor this year involving Pritchard. The Celtics’ depth at point guard – with Marcus Smart, Malcolm Brogdon, and Derrick White ahead of him – have bumped the 25-year-old out of the rotation at times. He’s appeared in 38 of the Celtics’ 54 games this season, and is playing a career-low 12.6 minutes per game.

  Gallinari has yet to play this season – he tore his ACL in an international tournament game shortly after singing a two-year, $13.3 million deal with the Celtics. While his recovery process seems to be progressing ahead of schedule, he also could be a valuable trade piece to help match salaries, without the Celtics having to pull from their rotation at all. That value could outweigh the small chance he makes it back for the postseason.

  So, who could that combination get the Celtics in return? Fischer mentions two players – Jakob Poeltl of the Spurs and Mo Bamba of the Magic.

  Poeltl would certainly add plenty of size to the roster at 7-foot-1, 245 pounds. A true post player, he’s started all 45 games h e’s appeared in with the Spurs this year averaging 12.1 and 9.1 rebounds per game. He’s in the final year of a three-year deal, and is on the books for $9.4 million this season.

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  SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 20: Jakob Poeltl #25 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots and scores over Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors in the fist half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on March 20, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

• Bamba is slightly smaller but not small at all at 7-foot, 231 pounds. He’s started six of his four games, averaging 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 17 minutes per game. The fun wrinkle in his game is he does bring an surprising outside shooting element for a guy his size, and is shooting 39.8 percent on three three-point attempts per game this season.

  Either way, it looks like the Celtics want to add depth to their front court. Right now, that group consists of Robert Williams and Al Horford as the starters, with Grant Williams and Luke Kornet featuring in the rotation. Blake Griffin has filled in at times as well.

  The Celtics have less than 24 hours to make whatever moves they want to make to gear up for the final stretch and their title run. Deals must be made by Thursday at 3 p.m. ET, which is the official trade deadline.

• Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.