Potential Celtics free agent targets

With the affect of the brand new CBA, free company will in all probability change. Will groups be much less keen at hand out huge contracts in concern of hitting the dreaded second apron? Will groups be keen to throw extra money at their very own free brokers whose Hen Rights they possess, figuring out that their potential to exchange expertise is harder? My guess is the second query will likely be answered within the affirmative and we are going to see numerous groups retaining Hen Proper free brokers. This goes double as a result of many groups are dropping the mid-level exception because of the second apron, the Celtics are a type of groups.

Lengthy story quick, the Celtics are very restricted in what they will do to signal different groups’ free brokers. With that in thoughts, I’ve put collectively an inventory of what I consider are potential free brokers which may be keen to take a vet minimal, which is the one contract the Celtics can provide. I additionally tried to consider the Hen Rights of their present staff, whether or not full or early. A free agent with out Hen Rights is way extra more likely to change groups as a result of their former staff is restricted in how a lot they will provide. In different phrases, with out Hen Rights, the participant’s former staff has no bargaining benefit over another staff within the league, if they’re over the cap, they’re restricted to providing one of many free company exceptions: minimal, mid-level, or bi-annual.

Contract data from Spotrac.com.

Guards

Seth Curry – UFA/Non-Hen

Pts-Reb-Ast: 5.4-1.6-1.0

FG%-3FG%-FT%: 39.2%-35.2%-90.3%

Seth Curry had a little bit of a down season final 12 months, which was harm plagued. He appeared in solely 42 video games and was despatched to Charlotte across the deadline as part of the PJ Washington commerce. His 3-point % has dropped three years straight, from 45%, to 42.2%, to 40.5%, and at last at 35.2%. That’s in all probability a strong rationalization for why his minutes dropped from 19.5 to 14.6 from 2022-23 to 2023-24 season, and a possible cause why he’s obtainable on a minimal.

That stated, Seth has a for much longer observe report of being an elite 3-point shooter than middling. He’s an analogous guard to Pritchard however that’s not essentially a foul factor. He is aware of how one can play, areas the ground, and gives a little bit of ball dealing with. He’s a unfavorable defensive participant, however the Celtics can get by with that through the common season. I believe he may slot in fairly seamlessly in two-guard lineups taking part in subsequent to both Derrick or Jrue and will deal with an even bigger position if one of many guards sits or is injured.

Photograph by Mitchell Leff/Getty Photos

Shake Milton – UFA/Non-Hen

4.5-1.6-1.3

40.5%-28.1%-81.6%

Shake had by far the worst 12 months of his profession final season. Coming off a really strong 22-23 the place he averaged 8.4-2.5-3.2 and shot 47.8% and 37.8% from three, each quantity plummeted in 23-24. He began the 12 months with a foot harm on the finish of October, and he simply by no means appeared to get comfy all season.

Look, I don’t assume Shake is a high-level position participant, however he’s proven flashes of being a strong offensive participant in his 6 years within the NBA. He’s acquired respectable dimension for a guard (6’5” with a 7’ wingspan), provides you just a little ball dealing with, and may get scorching in a rush. He’s nonetheless solely 27 years previous and has proven sufficient that he’ll in all probability stick round within the league for some time. If he can discover his capturing contact once more and Mazzulla can get him to play some protection, he’d be a very nice choice off the bench for the Cs.

Wings

Joe Ingles – UFA/Non-Hen

4.4-2.1-3.0

43.6%-43.5%-82.4%

Jingles and the subsequent participant are the dream vet minimal signings for me. Not like Curry and Milton, the place you’re hoping they bounce again from a down 12 months, with Jingles you simply hope he can stick with it for another season. Joe may be very a lot within the twilight of his profession and the defensive quick comings have been all the time there. They’ve solely gotten worse. That stated, he’s an offensive savant, averaging 3 assists per sport in solely 17 minutes whereas having a minimal position simply exhibits how clever Ingles is.

Joe is totally a dribble, cross, shoot man on offense, which the Celtics worth. He can run a decide and roll, is an elite spot up man, and has the identical connective passing DNA as Derrick White. He’s additionally 6’9”, which helps restrict a few of his defensive points. The priority is that he will likely be going into his age 37 season. In some unspecified time in the future, guys simply lose it, and that’s very a lot a threat with Ingles. That stated, the offensive match make it a worthwhile, and fairly small, gamble.

Photograph by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

Gordon Hayward – UFA/Hen

9.8-3.5-3.1

46.4%-41.1%-74.2%

Hayward’s inclusion right here may look fairly foolish provided that OKC has his Hen Rights. He very effectively may signal a 3 12 months $40m contract a day after this text goes dwell. A part of me thinks that OKC needs to maneuver on although. He simply didn’t match all that effectively with them and performed a massively lowered position within the NBA Playoffs. OKC’s staff goes to get very costly quickly. I don’t assume they’d need to make investments vital capital into a man that gained’t crack their playoff rotation. There’s extra threat that one other staff may provide him the mid-level, taxpayer or non, and the Celtics would have completely no method of matching that.

The hope is that Hayward feels he’s made sufficient cash and needs to complete what he began in Boston. I don’t understand how lifelike that’s however let me dream. Whereas he’s misplaced a step defensively, possibly two, he’s nonetheless a excessive IQ offensive participant. One other dribble, cross, shoot man that was completely lights out from 3 final 12 months. He, like Ingles, has good dimension for a ahead and will play subsequent to only about anybody on the roster, together with Sam Hauser. Hayward has undoubtedly declined, is in his mid-30s, and has struggled with accidents, so his manufacturing may proceed to degrade, however on a minimal, he’s value it.

Reggie Bullock – UFA/Non-Hen

2.2-1.7-0.3

41.5%-10.3%-100%

I’m not going to spend a lot time on Bullock. He had an terrible 12 months final 12 months on the Rockets, after two strong seasons in Dallas. He’s extraordinarily restricted offensively, however he makes threes and is a strong defensive participant with dimension (6’7”). I see him because the Brissett alternative if Oshae decides he needs to go someplace with extra taking part in time obtainable. Brissett performed 600 minutes for the Cs final 12 months, and I may see Bullock absorbing these minutes and doing an honest job.

Bigs

Andre Drummond – UFA/Early-Hen

8.4-9.0-0.5

55.6%-N/A-59.2%

I believe everyone knows what Drummond can provide a staff. Elite rebounding, strong display setter, and never practically pretty much as good defensively because it appears like he must be. Drummond had an honest 12 months for the Bulls, and nonetheless has flashes of the double-double monster he was in his earlier years. He’ll, shockingly, solely be coming into his age 31 season subsequent 12 months. That doesn’t really feel attainable, but it surely’s the reality.

I’d solely goal Drummond if Luke Kornet or Xavier Tillman walks. I believe Kornet matches what the Cs need to do on each ends higher than Drummond. Higher rim protector, higher finisher across the rim, and a world’s higher passer. However Drummond has some clear positives, and if one of many Cs’ free agent facilities stroll, could be a strong backup huge behind the one which stays.

One word, Chicago has Drummond’s Early Hen Rights, which implies they will provide him a contract value greater than the minimal. In the event that they achieve this, there may be virtually no probability he’ll cross that as much as signal a minimal with the Celtics. Nobody ever is aware of what the Bulls will do subsequent, but when he hits the market, I believe there will likely be mutual curiosity between Drummond and Boston.

Photograph by Quinn Harris/Getty Photos

Daniel Theis – UFA/Non-Hen

6.3-4.1-1.0

53.2%-36.6%-76.0%

Whereas Theis has misplaced a few of his lateral quickness and vertical athleticism as he’s aged, he’s nonetheless very a lot a strong NBA huge. Had his second finest 3-point capturing season final 12 months and gave the Clippers strong minutes when referred to as upon (averaged 16.9 mpg in 60 video games). If the capturing retains up, Theis may age very gracefully. One other good bonus, Theis truly makes his free throws (taking a look at you Drummond), which is all the time a plus out of a middle.

He’s not the switchy rim protector that he was in Boston, however he’s nonetheless a really strong and good defensive participant. Theis is effectively cherished by the fanbase, and I may see him eager to return if one among Kornet or Tillman walks and a few minutes open up. I doubt he would signal as much as be the fifth middle, however he could be a strong plan B if a type of guys will get a bigger provide elsewhere. third instances the allure, carry again the large German.

Upside swings

JT Thor – UFA/Hen

3.2-2.3-0.5

43.7%-34.6%-55.0%

Charlotte declined Thor’s fourth 12 months choice, which implies he’ll develop into a UFA. That’s doubtless a sign that Charlotte is shifting on from Thor, however they may technically provide him above a minimal deal since they’ve his Hen Rights.

His stats are tepid, however I believe Thor is an fascinating prospect. He’s a dynamic vertical athlete with nice dimension for a ahead (6’9” and 203 lbs.) and the three began to go in final 12 months on a tiny pattern dimension (81 makes an attempt). He’s extraordinarily uncooked on each ends and shot the ball poorly from 2-point vary, however his bodily instruments give him a excessive ceiling. If he figures out the shot for actual, and Mazzulla can coat him in no matter fairy mud he used to get Hauser to be strong defensive participant, Thor may actually blossom.

The issue is that the Cs can solely provide him a 2-year deal, which implies you possibly can’t get his full Hen Rights, so if he actually hits, he’s in all probability out the door earlier than you possibly can reap all the advantages. Nonetheless, I like Thor as a low threat, excessive reward play.

Tristan Vukcevic – UFA/Non-Hen

8.5-3.6-1.3

61.3%-27.8%-77.3%

It is a deep lower. Vukcevic has performed 10 NBA video games and solely performed a median of quarter-hour in these video games. The stats don’t bounce out at you, however he’s acquired some pedigree. He was the forty second general decide within the 2023 NBA Draft. He’s a legit 7-footer and has proven flashes of being competent with the ball in his palms and capturing it from 3. He won’t ever be a switchable defender, however he’s large enough that he may go to Luke Kornet rim safety camp and supply some worth on that finish. He’s acquired an especially lengthy approach to go however stretch bigs with actual dimension are onerous to search out, you may be capable to develop one in case you take a shot on Vuk.

It’s value nothing that Keith Smith talked about in March he thinks Vuk is on his method again to Washington, however adopted up saying his was speculating. Proper now, although, he’s a UFA, and if the Celtics have a possibility, I believe they need to pounce.

So, there you may have it. I don’t assume I’ve ever accurately referred to as a minimal signing made within the Brad Stevens period, together with when he was coach, so you possibly can safely cross these guys off your checklist. I like numerous these names, however even when we get none of them, I do know one factor for certain, I belief Brad Stevens.