NBA Trade Idea Sends Celtics' Payton Pritchard To Magic For 2 Players

If the Boston Celtics hold onto their current roster, next season's payroll would reach around $500 million. 

As a result, some believe the Celtics could shake up the roster this summer. 

Not only did Boston fail to defend its championship this year, but All-Star small forward Jayson Tatum also tore his right Achilles tendon and could miss all of next season. 

In the wake of the Celtics' expensive payroll and Tatum's injury, Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed that the Celtics trade Payton Pritchard to the Orlando Magic for Jett Howard, Tristan da Silva and the No. 16 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. 

"Pritchard seems like one of the least likely Celtics to be moved this summer. He'll still be in his prime whenever Tatum is healthy again, just broke out with a Sixth Man of the Year season and is on one of the best value contracts in the league. It runs through 2027-28, when he'll make just $8.3 million," Bailey wrote. "But if some team were willing to part with an unprotected first and some young talent for him, Boston might blink.

"Howard has yet to show much of the shooting that got him drafted in the first round in 2023, but he's only 21 years old and has good size (at 6'8") for a wing. Silva looks like he could develop into a bona fide three-level scorer and playmaking forward. And of course, the 2025 pick would instantly give Boston another cost-controlled contract for the next four years."