The Boston Celtics needed a positive player to come off the bench during their second four-game road trip of the month against the Western Conference, so head coach Joe Mazzulla leaned on his reserve guard Jaden Springer from deep on the bench.

It was against the Los Angeles Clippers when Mazzulla sprung Springer into action for the entire second half. He provided a defensive element that instantly changed the course of the game and he wounded up making the big shots for Boston in overtime.

Springer finished that game with 8-points, four steals, two rebounds, and made two 3-pointers in 20 minutes off the bench in the second half. After that game, he’s played in all four of the next games, which doesn’t sound like much, but it is for a player like Springer. In fact, he’s been one of the first players to enter the game in the first quarter lately.

That said, Springer has played in only 23 games this season, averaging 1.8 points on 37.9 percent shooting from the floor in five minutes per game. He’s seen the most action during his time in Boston since the start of the new calendar year, playing in 10 games so far in 2025.

So all of this leads to the questions: what is the plan for Springer, will Boston move him at the trade deadline, or will they keep him?

With the trade deadline around the corner, it’s being speculated that the Celtics are only using Springer as a way to audition him ahead of the trade deadline, essentially making him look more appealing to other teams. The only reason that Springer is the odd man out is due to his $4 million contract and the financial situation that the Celtics are currently in as a second-apron team.

Although shedding salary in this situation can make sense, I don’t think it’s as big of a deal for this current season as it’s being made out to be. I understand how/why Boston is limited in the way they can acquire players due to the financial constraints of being a second-apron team, but worry about that next year with the new owner. It’s inevitable that this current team isn’t going to look the same next season, it’s just too expensive. But worry about that next year.

That said, I’m reminded of what Brad Stevens said about Springer during his post-trade deadline press conference. He was impressed with his potential, his youth, and his overall athleticism.

“I think the Springer thing when you think about a guy that’s still on his rookie scale contract and he’s younger than most of the guys that we’re looking at in the draft. So that was an opportunity for us to bring in a guy who we think is an athlete that can play athletically in the playoffs.”

After Wednesday’s game against the Chicago Bulls, Mazzulla was asked about Springer and what he’s providing the team as of late, mostly on the defensive end.

“He’s gotten a couple turnovers, some deflections, and just his on-ball defense. I think certain guys bring certain things to the table, and when he’s out there, he makes everyone better around him defensively just because of his physicality.”

With Stevens already being intrigued and now with Mazzulla actually utilizing his specialties, Springer has a skill that not many have on the roster as a defensive specialist and I think it’s worth keeping around for the remainder of the season.

Despite the idea of shedding salary and how it can benefit the team in the long term, Stevens isn’t going to make a trade just for the sake of making a trade. If it doesn’t make sense or the returning player isn’t what the team needs, I don’t see how or why they’d part ways with Springer at this point.

The Celtics would benefit from adding a wing to their depth that can spell Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Right now, depth is thin behind Sam Hauser, who’s been out of the lineup too often this season and Mazzulla has shown not to play more than eight or nine players in most games.

Furthermore, Mazzulla is using Springer and a two-way player in Drew Peterson over Jordan Walsh and Xavier Tillman. Baylor Scheierman is also starting to see more run when he’s with Boston, rookie first round draft pick who will be playoff eligible.

Mazzulla saying that Springer’s defensive abilities is making his teammates around him better on that end I think that’s an important thing for a player to do and a coach to notice and say it. Why would you want to lose a player like that?

Stevens has some big decisions to make for this current team. Considering how excited he was in acquiring Springer and now with his recent great performances, it’s hard to see him be moved at the deadline. I think he can truly contribute to the Celtics this season.

“He’s an athlete that can play athletically in the playoffs.”

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