After winning a championship last season, the Boston Celtics brought back nearly the exact same roster. Outside of Svi Mykhailiuk and Oshae Brissett, every player from last year’s team is still on board. So far, this continuity has paid off for Boston. They are 21-6 and own the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. In addition to their standing, the Celtics do not have much financial flexibility. Because of these factors, many do not anticipate the Celtics making a trade this season. And even if they do, it will likely be a minor one. However, that has not stopped certain Celtics from appearing in trade rumors, especially Jaden Springer.
Earlier in the year, NBA insider Jake Fischer suggested that the Celtics pursued a trade to move on from Springer. If they had done so, they would have had enough money to retain Lonnie Walker IV, who looked good for them in preseason. Ultimately, nothing has come to fruition yet, but that could change soon enough.
In last night’s loss to the Chicago Bulls, Springer played normal minutes for the first time all season. He played 13 minutes. In that time, he missed both of his field goal attempts and grabbed four rebounds. Additionally, he showcased his defensive talent. His inclusion in the rotation was a bit of a shock. The team was without Sam Hauser, but even so, it is a surprise that Springer got the playing time he did.
After the game, head coach Joe Mazzulla explained why the 22-year-old had a larger role.
“Just match the speed that (the Bulls) play with overall,” Mazzulla said. “I thought he does a good job on the offensive glass and his individual defense and just kind of wanted to match the speed there. I thought he played well.”
Some have raised the question, however–Are the Celtics looking to showcase Springer in anticipation of a potential trade?
Boston Celtics May Have Begun Showcasing Jaden Springer as a Trade Candidate
What Jaden Springer Brings to the Table
The Celtics acquired Springer from the Philadelphia 76ers ahead of last season’s trade deadline. He played a minimal role during Boston’s title run, but his talent was clear from the jump.
Springer is an athletic, defensive-minded guard who plays with a lot of energy. Additionally, at just 22 years old, he still has a lot of potential to unlock. However, Springer provides very little value on the offensive side of the ball. In his career, he is a 2.8 point-per-game scorer who is a career 21.4% shooter from the three-point line.
There is a lot to like about Springer, however, and there should be some teams interested in his talents.
The Last Word
Trading Springer would make sense for Boston. In addition to him being a restricted free agent next season, he is stuck on the Celtics’ depth chart. He currently plays behind guards Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard. All three of them provide essential value to Boston, making Springer a bench player for them at best.
The trade deadline is in February. A lot can happen until then. But as it currently stands, it seems likely that Springer’s days in Boston are numbered.
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