Celtics Rumors: Danilo Gallinari, Payton Pritchard Shopped Ahead of Trade Deadline

The Boston Celtics have looked into packaging Danilo Gallinari and Payton Pritchard together ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline, according to Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer.

Fischer reported the Celtics are targeting a center, with the San Antonio Spurs' Jakob Poeltl and Orlando Magic's Mo Bamba linked.

Pritchard has struggled this season as his role was further diminished following the offseason acquisition of Malcolm Brogdon. Through 38 games, he's averaging 4.8 points and 1.1 assists in 12.6 minutes on the floor. He's also shooting 40.1 percent overall and 33.0 percent from beyond the arc.

The 25-year-old is due to earn $4 million in 2023-24 before he's eligible for restricted free agency. He might welcome a change of scenery if it meant getting more playing time and building his value on the court.

Gallinari, meanwhile, is recovering from a torn ACL. Even if he manages to come back at some point this season, it's unlikely that he'll make an impact for the Celtics or another team.

The 34-year-old could be little more than salary filler since he can opt out of his two-year, $13.3 million contract in the offseason. That's probably the route he'd take if he were to land in San Antonio since the Spurs waived him last summer following his trade from the Atlanta Hawks.

Should Gallinari go instead to a clear playoff contender, he may be more keen to opt in for 2023-24, in which case a $6.8 million salary is solid value for a 6'10" forward who has shot 38.2 percent from three-point range for his career.