Potential Celtics free agent targets

With the affect of the brand new CBA, free company will most likely change. Will groups be much less keen at hand out huge contracts in worry of hitting the dreaded second apron? Will groups be keen to throw more cash at their very own free brokers whose Chicken Rights they possess, realizing that their means to switch expertise is tougher? My guess is the second query will probably be answered within the affirmative and we are going to see numerous groups retaining Chicken Proper free brokers. This goes double as a result of many groups are shedding the mid-level exception as a result of second apron, the Celtics are a kind of groups.

Lengthy story quick, the Celtics are very restricted in what they’ll do to signal different groups’ free brokers. With that in thoughts, I’ve put collectively a listing of what I imagine are potential free brokers that could be keen to take a vet minimal, which is the one contract the Celtics can supply. I additionally tried to take into consideration the Chicken Rights of their present staff, whether or not full or early. A free agent with out Chicken Rights is way extra more likely to change groups as a result of their former staff is restricted in how a lot they’ll supply. In different phrases, with out Chicken Rights, the participant’s former staff has no bargaining benefit over every other 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-Chicken

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 damage 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 eventually at 35.2%. That’s most likely 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 mentioned, Seth has a for much longer monitor file of being an elite 3-point shooter than middling. He’s an identical guard to Pritchard however that’s not essentially a foul factor. He is aware of easy methods to play, areas the ground, and gives a little bit of ball dealing with. He’s a destructive defensive participant, however the Celtics can get by with that throughout the common season. I believe he might slot in fairly seamlessly in two-guard lineups enjoying subsequent to both Derrick or Jrue and will deal with an even bigger function if one of many guards sits or is injured.

Shake Milton – UFA/Non-Chicken

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 damage on the finish of October, and he simply by no means appeared to get snug all season.

Look, I don’t suppose Shake is a high-level function participant, however he’s proven flashes of being a strong offensive participant in his 6 years within the NBA. He’s received respectable measurement for a guard (6’5” with a 7’ wingspan), offers you slightly ball dealing with, and may get sizzling in a rush. He’s nonetheless solely 27 years previous and has proven sufficient that he’ll most likely stick round within the league for some time. If he can discover his taking pictures 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-Chicken

4.4-2.1-3.0

43.6%-43.5%-82.4%

Jingles and the following 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 yet 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 mentioned, he’s an offensive savant, averaging 3 assists per recreation in solely 17 minutes whereas having a minimal function simply exhibits how clever Ingles is.

Joe is completely a dribble, go, 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 probably 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 mentioned, the offensive match make it a worthwhile, and fairly small, gamble.

Gordon Hayward – UFA/Chicken

9.8-3.5-3.1

46.4%-41.1%-74.2%

Hayward’s inclusion right here might look fairly foolish provided that OKC has his Chicken Rights. He very properly might signal a 3 12 months $40m contract a day after this text goes reside. A part of me thinks that OKC needs to maneuver on although. He simply didn’t match all that properly with them and performed a massively decreased function within the NBA Playoffs. OKC’s staff goes to get very costly quickly. I don’t suppose they’d need to make investments vital capital into a man that received’t crack their playoff rotation. There’s further threat that one other staff might supply 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 desires to complete what he began in Boston. I don’t understand how reasonable 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, go, shoot man that was completely lights out from 3 final 12 months. He, like Ingles, has good measurement for a ahead and will play subsequent to simply 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 price it.

Reggie Bullock – UFA/Non-Chicken

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 measurement (6’7”). I see him because the Brissett substitute if Oshae decides he needs to go someplace with extra enjoying time obtainable. Brissett performed 600 minutes for the Cs final 12 months, and I might see Bullock absorbing these minutes and doing an honest job.

Bigs

Andre Drummond – UFA/Early-Chicken

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 screen setter, and never practically nearly as good defensively because it appears like he needs to 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 doable, however it’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, can be a strong backup huge behind the one which stays.

One observe, Chicago has Drummond’s Early Chicken Rights, which implies they’ll supply him a contract price greater than the minimal. In the event that they achieve this, there may be virtually no probability he’ll go 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 think there will probably be mutual curiosity between Drummond and Boston.

Daniel Theis – UFA/Non-Chicken

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 greatest 3-point taking pictures season final 12 months and gave the Clippers strong minutes when known as upon (averaged 16.9 mpg in 60 video games). If the taking pictures retains up, Theis might age very gracefully. One other good bonus, Theis really makes his free throws ( 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 properly beloved by the fanbase, and I might see him desirous 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 heart, however he can be a strong plan B if a kind of guys will get a bigger supply elsewhere. third occasions the allure, deliver again the massive German.

Upside swings

JT Thor – UFA/Chicken

3.2-2.3-0.5

43.7%-34.6%-55.0%

Charlotte declined Thor’s fourth 12 months choice, which implies he’ll turn out to be a UFA. That’s doubtless a sign that Charlotte is shifting on from Thor, however they may technically supply him above a minimal deal since they’ve his Chicken Rights.

His stats are tepid, however I believe Thor is an attention-grabbing prospect. He’s a dynamic vertical athlete with nice measurement for a ahead (6’9” and 203 lbs.) and the three began to go in final 12 months on a tiny pattern measurement (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 might actually blossom.

The issue is that the Cs can solely supply him a 2-year deal, which implies you’ll be able to’t get his full Chicken Rights, so if he actually hits, he’s most likely out the door earlier than you’ll be able to reap all the advantages. Nonetheless, I like Thor as a low threat, excessive reward play.

Tristan Vukcevic – UFA/Non-Chicken

8.5-3.6-1.3

61.3%-27.8%-77.3%

It is a deep reduce. Vukcevic has performed 10 NBA video games and solely performed a mean of quarter-hour in these video games. The stats don’t leap out at you, however he’s received some pedigree. He was the forty second total decide within the 2023 NBA Draft. He’s a legit 7-footer and has proven flashes of being competent with the ball in his arms and taking pictures it from 3. He won’t ever be a switchable defender, however he’s sufficiently big that he might go to Luke Kornet rim safety camp and supply some worth on that finish. He’s received an especially lengthy strategy to go however stretch bigs with actual measurement are exhausting to seek out, you may be capable of develop one for those who take a shot on Vuk.

It’s price 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 chance, I believe they need to pounce.

So, there you will have it. I don’t suppose I’ve ever appropriately known as a minimal signing made within the Brad Stevens period, together with when he was coach, so you’ll be able to safely cross these guys off your listing. I like quite a lot of these names, however even when we get none of them, I do know one factor for positive, I belief Brad Stevens.