After previous reports indicated the Boston Celtics had Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant on top of their wish list of potential trade targets, the price they are willing to pay is coming into sharper focus.
Appearing on the A-List Podcast, James Edwards III of The Athletic said “the Celtics have offered multiple firsts for (Grant). I don’t what multiple means, it could be two, it could be three.”
Before anyone gets too excited, however, it’s worth keeping a couple things in mind:
- Despite GM Troy Weaver saying nobody is untouchable, it is almost a near certainty that Jerami Grant remains on the Pistons roster beyond the trade deadline.
- Boston’s multiple picks are not the multiple pick offers of years past. Boston no long has other team’s high draft picks to offer and can only trade their own first-rounder, which are low and would only get lower if they were able to trade for a difference-making player.
Let’s take a closer look at Boston’s draft capital.
The Celtics own all of their future first-round picks, but cannot trade picks in consecutive seasons. While sitting at just 19-18 in the Eastern Conference and with the projected 18th pick in the NBA Draft, it wouldn’t take much for Boston to shoot up in the standings. The Celtics have the ninth-easiest schedule remaining and still project to finish 41-31 with the ninth-best record in the NBA.
If the Celtics traded for Grant, it would solve a huge offensive hole for them on the wing and provide additional defensive versatility.
The Celtics do own some attractive second-round picks in 2021 (Oklahoma City) and 2022 (Charlotte), but those only move the needle so much. Even if the Celtics were to offer picks in 2021 and 2023, plus those two second-rounders, I don’t think it’d be enough to make Weaver pull the trigger on his most prized acquisition since becoming a GM.
How many additional picks and what players could further tip the scales toward a deal? I’m not sure.
The NBA Trade Deadline is March 25.