According to MassLive’s Brian Robb, the Boston Celtics may be aiming to execute a “uneven trade” this season, which explains why the front office is preserving an open roster space ahead of the 2023-24 regular season.
“Barring a surprise name becoming available on the waiver wire later, the Celtics are also expected to begin the season on (opening night) with one roster spot open,” Robb said before going on to say, “This will allow the front office the option to make an uneven player trade during the season without making a roster cut as well as additional flexibility to add depth if injuries arise.”
All partially guaranteed players, according to Robb, will be on the opening night roster.
“All players remaining on partially and non-guaranteed deals (Dalano Banton, Svi Mykhailiuk, Luke Kornet, Lamar Stevens) are expected to make the opening night roster a source told MassLive barring a late development,” Robb stated in an email.
The term ‘uneven deal’ refers to a probable two-for-one Boston Celtics trade.
It’s feasible that the Boston Celtics may be the ones to part with the highest-paid player in the next huge blockbuster trade, which could also mean they’ll be giving away the greatest player. An unbalanced trade signals a two-for-one deal, and the Cs have an available roster slot, thus they are the likely recipients of both.
Given Brown’s supermax extension, Porzingis’ two-year deal for 2024-25 and 2025-26, and Pritchard’s four-year MLE contract, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, and Payton Pritchard cannot be the players involved in such a two-for-one swap. Jayson Tatum is unlikely to be either. Trading Jrue Holiday would entail giving up the team’s lone previous NBA champion, which is unlikely to happen.
This leaves Derrick White and Al Horford as possible trade partners. Losing either would be devastating, but the Cs made strong efforts in the offseason to get higher-caliber players at the same position, and there may only be so many chances to win a championship with guys like Brown and Tatum in their primes.
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