9 potential Celtics free agent targets

With the influence of the brand new CBA, free company will most likely change. Will groups be much less prepared at hand out large contracts in worry of hitting the dreaded second apron? Will groups be prepared to throw more cash at their very own free brokers whose Chook Rights they possess, understanding that their skill to switch expertise is harder? My guess is the second query will probably be answered within the affirmative and we’ll see a number of groups retaining Chook Proper free brokers. This goes double as a result of many groups are dropping the mid-level exception as a result of second apron, the Celtics are a kind of groups.

Lengthy story brief, 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 consider are potential free brokers that could be prepared to take a vet minimal, which is the one contract the Celtics can provide. I additionally tried to keep in mind the Chook Rights of their present crew, whether or not full or early. A free agent with out Chook Rights is much extra more likely to change groups as a result of their former crew is proscribed in how a lot they’ll provide. In different phrases, with out Chook Rights, the participant’s former crew has no bargaining benefit over another crew 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 info from Spotrac.com.

Guards

Seth Curry – UFA/Non-Chook

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 yr, 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 stable clarification 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 accessible on a minimal.

That stated, Seth has a for much longer monitor file of being an elite 3-point shooter than middling. He’s the same guard to Pritchard however that’s not essentially a foul factor. He is aware of find out how to play, areas the ground, and offers a little bit of ball dealing with. He’s a adverse defensive participant, however the Celtics can get by with that throughout the common season. I feel he may 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-Chook

4.5-1.6-1.3

40.5%-28.1%-81.6%

Shake had by far the worst yr of his profession final season. Coming off a really stable 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 yr 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 assume Shake is a high-level function participant, however he’s proven flashes of being a stable offensive participant in his 6 years within the NBA. He’s received respectable dimension for a guard (6’5” with a 7’ wingspan), provides 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 capturing contact once more and Mazzulla can get him to play some protection, he’d be a very nice possibility off the bench for the Cs.

Wings

Joe Ingles – UFA/Non-Chook

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. In contrast to Curry and Milton, the place you might be hoping they bounce again from a down yr, with Jingles you simply hope he can stick with it for yet one more season. Joe could be very a lot within the twilight of his profession and the defensive brief 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 function 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 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 stated, the offensive match make it a worthwhile, and fairly small, gamble.

Gordon Hayward – UFA/Chook

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 Chook Rights. He very properly may signal a 3 yr $40m contract a day after this text goes stay. 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 diminished function within the NBA Playoffs. OKC’s crew goes to get very costly quickly. I don’t assume they’d wish to make investments important capital into a man that gained’t crack their playoff rotation. There’s further threat that one other crew may provide him the mid-level, taxpayer or non, and the Celtics would have completely no means 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 know the way lifelike that’s however let me dream. Whereas he’s misplaced a step defensively, perhaps two, he’s nonetheless a excessive IQ offensive participant. One other dribble, cross, shoot man that was completely lights out from 3 final yr. He, like Ingles, has good dimension 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 would possibly proceed to degrade, however on a minimal, he’s price it.

Reggie Bullock – UFA/Non-Chook

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 yr final yr on the Rockets, after two stable seasons in Dallas. He’s extraordinarily restricted offensively, however he makes threes and is a stable defensive participant with dimension (6’7”). I see him because the Brissett alternative if Oshae decides he needs to move someplace with extra enjoying time accessible. Brissett performed 600 minutes for the Cs final yr, and I may see Bullock absorbing these minutes and doing a good job.

Bigs

Andre Drummond – UFA/Early-Chook

8.4-9.0-0.5

55.6%-N/A-59.2%

I feel everyone knows what Drummond can provide a crew. Elite rebounding, stable display screen setter, and never practically nearly as good defensively because it looks like he must be. Drummond had a good yr for the Bulls, and nonetheless has flashes of the double-double monster he was in his earlier years. He’ll, shockingly, solely be getting into his age 31 season subsequent yr. That doesn’t really feel potential, however it’s the reality.

I’d solely goal Drummond if Luke Kornet or Xavier Tillman walks. I feel Kornet matches what the Cs wish 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 stable backup large behind the one which stays.

One notice, Chicago has Drummond’s Early Chook Rights, which suggests they’ll provide him a contract price greater than the minimal. In the event that they achieve this, there’s 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 probably be mutual curiosity between Drummond and Boston.

Daniel Theis – UFA/Non-Chook

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 stable NBA large. Had his second finest 3-point capturing season final yr and gave the Clippers stable 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 stable and sensible defensive participant. Theis is properly liked by the fanbase, and I may see him eager to return if certainly one of Kornet or Tillman walks and a few minutes open up. I doubt he would signal as much as be the fifth middle, however he can be a stable plan B if a kind of guys will get a bigger provide elsewhere. third occasions the appeal, carry again the massive German.

Upside swings

JT Thor – UFA/Chook

3.2-2.3-0.5

43.7%-34.6%-55.0%

Charlotte declined Thor’s fourth yr possibility, which suggests he’ll turn out to be 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 Chook Rights.

His stats are tepid, however I feel Thor is an attention-grabbing 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 yr 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 stable defensive participant, Thor may actually blossom.

The issue is that the Cs can solely provide him a 2-year deal, which suggests you possibly can’t get his full Chook Rights, so if he actually hits, he’s most likely 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-Chook

8.5-3.6-1.3

61.3%-27.8%-77.3%

This can be a deep minimize. Vukcevic has performed 10 NBA video games and solely performed a median of quarter-hour in these video games. The stats don’t soar 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 palms and capturing it from 3. He won’t ever be a switchable defender, however he’s sufficiently big that he may go to Luke Kornet rim safety camp and supply some worth on that finish. He’s received an especially lengthy method to go however stretch bigs with actual dimension are arduous to search out, you would possibly have the ability to 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 means 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 feel they need to pounce.

So, there you have got 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 listing. I like quite a lot of these names, however even when we get none of them, I do know one factor for certain, I belief Brad Stevens.