The Warriors make their return to Boston on Thursday and it sounds like they’re interested in taking a player back with them to the Bay.
That player in question is backup point guard Payton Pritchard, who Golden State has inquired with Boston regarding a trade according to MassLive. Unsurprisingly, the Celtics are yet to show interest in moving him.
It’s unsurprising because it would take a lot for the Celtics to make a move that improves a Warriors team who beat them in the NBA Finals last year. Golden State could really use a backup ball handler who can shoot 3-pointers, and that’s exactly Pritchard’s skillset.
But the Celtics need Pritchard too. He’s show his value in the last four games with Jaylen Brown out due to injury, stepping up after being thrown back into the rotation. Though his minutes have decreased to 10 per game after the acquisition of Malcolm Brogdon, Boston is an injury prone group who will have to be persuaded to get rid of a cheap insurance policy like Pritchard.
Until the Warriors can figure out a way to add reinforcements, they will be relegated to playing Ty Jerome, on a two-way contract, in spot minutes as their only true backup point guard.