Celtics trade rumors: Boston talking with Hawks ahead of 2023 NBA Draft (report)

The Celtics are just two days away from the 2023 NBA Draft but rumors continue to swirl around their potential plans as the offseason kicks off.

According to Kevin O’Connor of the Ringer, the Celtics are one of three teams (Raptors, Mavericks) that have been connected to the Hawks in trade talks.

MassLive reported last week that Boston had been one of the more active teams across the league in negotiations as they attempt to reconfigure their roster around a surplus of guards.

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Is there a deal that makes sense for Boston and Atlanta?

The Hawks hold the No. 15 overall pick but it’s doubtful Boston has the draft capital to land that selection without including a future first-round pick. Atlanta does have a number of forwards on their roster though on rookie scale deals (Saddiq Bey, Jalen Johnson, AJ Griffin) so one of those players may appeal to the Celtics while also fitting into Boston’s payroll. Onyeka Onkongu is a stud big man coming off of Atlanta’s bench but it’s unlikely he’s available with his cheap contract and potential for anything the Celtics are willing to give up.

The question for Boston is whether any of those forwards would be worth giving up Payton Pritchard for. The team is examining moving bigger guard contracts (Malcolm Brogdon) per sources but the Hawks are a team that is looking to reduce payroll, not add to it as they carry a number of big deals across the starting five (Trae Young, Capela, Collins, Hunter, Bogdanovic, Murray). In a sense it’s a similar situation to Boston from a payroll standpoint albeit with less talent overall as evidenced by Atlanta’s first round exit.

There aren’t any real fits here for a Brogdon deal without involving a third team since dealing for Bogdanovic is just adding another guard, while Collins or Capela will add too much long term payroll for their skillsets.

All things considered, only something on a smaller scale would make sense between these two teams and there’s nothing clearcut that emerges from a player standpoint.