The Boston Celtics acquired Jaden Springer in a last-second deal, aiming to bolster their defense for the playoffs. Brad Stevens highlighted Springer's potential, noting the team's interest in him since the 2021 NBA Draft. However, Daryl Morey, the Sixers' president, traded Springer, believing that a second-round pick would be more immediately beneficial. The trade reflects differing evaluations of Springer's readiness to contribute to a playoff team.
Why did Daryl Morey trade Jaden Springer to one of his team's biggest competitors? Morey's evaluation says Springer currently can't help a playoff team win games in the postseason. The Celtics’ evaluation is that the Sixers are wrong. ✍️@JaredWeissNBA https://t.co/BDfaAUhgOo https://t.co/MpemBuwP0N
“We had to look at, ‘What are the odds Jaden Springer — who I think has a great future — will help our playoff rotation in the one-, two-, three-year maybe horizon? And what are the odds that the second-round pick will help us?’ And we thought the second-round pick helped us… https://t.co/YEx6p2gCMZ
Celtics had eyes on Jaden Springer since 2021 NBA Draft: ‘ He’s a guy that we believe in’ https://t.co/2xvmnd3F86
I followed up with Morey on the Springer trade logic, given that he was a long term play when they drafted him. Here was his rationale: https://t.co/o4KYTyGpxf
Morey, on trading Springer: "Our evaluation was that his timetable to help a playoff team is farther out than what the second round pick can do for us." Morey specifically talked about using pick in trades. "It allows us to go out and maybe get a veteran at next year's deadline"
Morey says the Springer trade was simple calculus for them — they believed during the next 1-2 years that a pick would be more helpful (potentially in a trade, for example) to their chances to win than Springer would be. They believed he's on a longer development timeframe
The path to the Celtics' trade for Jaden Springer goes back years, @JackSimoneNBA writes for @celticsblog, with a hilarious quote from Brad Stevens calling him "a puppy" https://t.co/85NyTGaN3t https://t.co/cYZYGWTTJC
Brad Stevens says the team had Jaden Springer on its radar at the draft a few years ago and his strides really stood out this past fall when facing Philly in the preseason.
Brad Stevens & the Celtics swung a last second deal for Jaden Springer, prying a playoff caliber defender from 1 of their biggest competitors. What does Springer do so well & how did the deadline shape the Celtics’ path to the Finals? W/ @ByJayKing https://t.co/dW0NhFIM6d
Brad Stevens and the Celtics swung a last second deal for Jaden Springer, prying a playoff caliber defender from one of their biggest competitors. What exactly does Springer do so well and how did the deadline shape the Celtics path to the Finals? https://t.co/dW0NhFIM6d
Four things to know about new Celtics wing Jaden Springer https://t.co/F4VXXf7KgP
4 things to know about new Celtics wing Jaden Springer https://t.co/LT22rzowMp