Complacency Kills: A Celtics Free Agency Preview
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Nothing is guaranteed in the NBA.
After the Boston Celtics lost in the NBA Finals, the team’s fans could be heard all over social media saying something along the lines of “they will be back.” As a Celtics fan myself, it can be comforting to believe that, but nothing is guaranteed in the NBA. Boston must improve their roster to appear in, and hopefully win, another NBA championship.
So how can coach-turned-GM Brad Stevens upgrade on a team that was two wins away from a championship? Given that the Celtics are far over the salary cap, Stevens will need to utilize trade exceptions to bring in new players. Boston has nine trade exceptions, but only three are valued at above $5 million, so those three will be the launch pads for any additions.
For those unaware, trade exceptions are given when a team over the cap limit trades a player away without taking on any salary in return. The exception’s value is the same as the traded player’s contract value. Teams can use trade exceptions to absorb the salaries of incoming players. The Celtics have three notable trade exceptions from previous deals involving Evan Fournier ($17.1 million), Juancho Hernangomez ($6.9 million), and Dennis Schroeder ($5.8 million).
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Regarding the roster, Boston’s primary need is improving the bench. In the Finals, the bench was streaky from three, turnover-prone, and largely ineffective on offense. Bench scoring, especially at the wing position, is a necessity. Brad Stevens himself said they need “a little bit more scoring, consistent scoring, off the bench” as well as “a little bit more playmaking” (Terada, MassLive). Beyond that, I’d like the Celtics to consider at least upgrading from Daniel Theis and adding a guard who is careful with the ball. Turnovers killed Boston in the Finals, so improving offensive efficiency is paramount.
So who do the Celtics target? Luckily, with the three exceptions mentioned above, they have the flexibility to target players in multiple price brackets, so the options are theoretically wide open. I’d personally like to see the Celtics go after the following players:
Evan Fournier: Fournier would, of course, fit into the $17 million trade exception, given that it is his contract. His time with the Celtics was short-lived, but he played fairly well in that span. He’s a solid wing scorer who can be serviceable on defense. The Knicks are selling, and Fournier has already been connected to the Celtics this offseason.
Kyle Kuzma: After an up-and-down Lakers career, Kuzma played quite well in Washington, averaging 17 points per game this past season. He’s a long, versatile forward who specializes in shot creation. In addition, his frame gives him upside as a defender, and if the Wizards lose Bradley Beal, they may be willing to deal Kuzma and kickstart a true rebuild.
Derrick Rose: If the Celtics think they can sign a good wing using their Mid-Level Exception on a free agent, they may target a point guard with their trade exceptions. Rose may not add much on the defensive end, but he’s a very experienced true point guard who can still score anywhere while taking care of the basketball. Adding Rose would likely mean the end of Payton Pritchard’s time in Boston, but it’s worth a consideration.