Celtics Offseason Primer

Cellar-Door

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
34,460
View: https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1540054345223389184


So this is not as far as I can tell in the text of the CBA, and I can't find the full text of any other rule, BUT.....
it looks like the re-acquisition rule says "season" which is the period in which games are played, and not "year" which from the NBA is July 1 to June 30.

Therefore, you can trade a player, and then reacquire him so long as you do it between the day after the last NBA finals game, and June 30th.
 

JakeRae

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 21, 2005
8,125
New York, NY
Fournier as a salary dump is more attractive than giving up anything of value for Kennard. They are pretty equivalent players.
 

NomarsFool

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 21, 2001
8,159
I certainly couldn't complain about trading Nesmith for a late FRP. Honestly, it'd hard for me to see someone doing that straight up - at a minimum I'd see Nesmith plus the 2nd for a late 1st. If I'm the Celtics, I think I do that.

I wouldn't trade Pritchard for a late first, and I'd be pretty surprised if the Celtics did that. Pritchard has his limitations, certainly, but he has shown he is at least a fringe rotation player and many players in the late first round never make it at all.
 

bigq

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
11,084
He wasn't that bad for the Celtics. He was playing next to Kemba and the team was in disarray. His shot is real, and he can playmake/score some.

With decent draft capital, I'd consider it, since you have the salary for awhile, and the current team can cover his defensive issues a lot better.
Agree that he wasn’t bad for the Celtics and for a couple of games prior to being shut down for Covid he was fantastic. 46% and 43% from three in the regular season and playoffs respectively on 6 attempts per game while in green was not too shabby. I don’t know how to rate him defensively but he can definitely put the ball in the basket.
 

JakeRae

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 21, 2005
8,125
New York, NY
I certainly couldn't complain about trading Nesmith for a late FRP. Honestly, it'd hard for me to see someone doing that straight up - at a minimum I'd see Nesmith plus the 2nd for a late 1st. If I'm the Celtics, I think I do that.

I wouldn't trade Pritchard for a late first, and I'd be pretty surprised if the Celtics did that. Pritchard has his limitations, certainly, but he has shown he is at least a fringe rotation player and many players in the late first round never make it at all.
I would definitely trade Pritchard for a late first. There’s a good chance we end up with a lesser player, but I don’t see a real pathway for him to be playable in key playoff matchups so I’d rather take a shot on someone who might develop that ability. Plus trading Pritchard would probably make it easier to attract a better veteran on the FA market for that role as they would have an easier time seeing where their minutes are coming from.

Trading Pritchard is also the last step in ridding the roster of Ainge’s love of undersized guards.
 

Jimbodandy

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 31, 2006
11,405
around the way
I laughed, but is the Fournier *that* bad? 2 more years at 18.5 mil with a team option in year 3 for a 6'7" guy who can shoot and has at least sometimes been a decent defender? It's not a tradable asset, but there will be plenty of worse contracts signed this offseason.
52637

Salary dump guys, both of them. Fournier is below replacement level.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
That is what I have seen from any of the youtubes I have seen of analysts discussing him. Not sure the quality of this review, but has some numbers

https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2022/5/31/23148291/2022-nba-draft-prospect-profiles-tari-eason-memphis-grizzlies-lsu-tigers



I think he can be a solid contributor for a good team in the 16-25 range. But I think the above mentioned are the reasons he is being mentioned deeper into the draft or slipping
Eason’s Projections have been in the 17 range since the process began and I gotta say that I disagree how that person is evaluating Eason’s offense. How can a player be considered limited when he’s arguably the best shot creator in the entire conference? It’s almost like they were removing his fouls created from his offensive numbers. Anyway, I’ll look at that more later but yeah I don’t know how we ever get up to the teens for him. Weird report to begin with even mentioning him at 28 imo.
 

JM3

often quoted
SoSH Member
Dec 14, 2019
14,283
Do I particularly want Fournier? No.

Do I think it would be awesome to take him into the Fournier TPE & have the Knicks give up a significant asset to do so? Absolutely.
 

mcpickl

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 23, 2007
4,546
I'd be surprised if they use draft assets to get back into the late first round of this draft.

I'd guess they'd be offering the good 2nd rounders they have next season, and I'd be using those to get a veteran into the Fournier TPE.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
I'd be surprised if they use draft assets to get back into the late first round of this draft.

I'd guess they'd be offering the good 2nd rounders they have next season, and I'd be using those to get a veteran into the Fournier TPE.
All cards are probably on the table depending who is available and even Brad won’t know until the final minutes.
 

nighthob

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
12,678
Do I particularly want Fournier? No.

Do I think it would be awesome to take him into the Fournier TPE & have the Knicks give up a significant asset to do so? Absolutely.
It would be beyond hilarious to get the Knicks to give up their unprotected 2023 #1 to unload Fournier and see Boston with a lottery pick.
 

Cellar-Door

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
34,460
Here's a sneaky name for a 1 year Tax MLE deal and one title run......

John Wall.

Looking more and more like he'll get bought out to start FA. Now he has some other options where he'd probably start, but Boston would be a good fit for him, and if he was willing to come here, it opens up some options, he may consider it given:
1. Good shot at a ring
2. He can ease his way in, and play 1 and 2.
3. He can show himself to be a team guy.
 

nighthob

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
12,678
TJ Warren makes Kawhi Leonard look like AC Green in the durability department. Nice player when healthy, though. Too bad healthy TJ is hanging out with Bigfoot and the Abominable Snowman these days. Harris and OPJ are definitely interesting names. If the Magic hadn't been so determined to pay Harris not to play Boston might have won the title this year.
 

Cellar-Door

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
34,460
The Athletic on Celtics FA targets:

Celtics’ free-agent targets: Otto Porter Jr., Danilo Gallinari and others for right price - The Athletic


1-TJ Warren
2-Danilo Gallinari
3-Gary Harris
4-Otto Porter
5-Isaiah Hartenstein
6-Victor Oladipo
7-Cody Martin
8-Caleb Martin
9-Delon Wright
10-Rubio/Wall/Ingles
Couple of those guys I like, a couple I think there is no way they take $6M.

I think a lot depends on what they use the TPEs for. If you use the TPE on a big, then Wright, Oladipo, Rubio, Wall become prime targets. You use it on a wing or guard and Porter/Hartenstein jump out.
 

mikeot

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2006
8,147
Here's a sneaky name for a 1 year Tax MLE deal and one title run......

John Wall.

Looking more and more like he'll get bought out to start FA. Now he has some other options where he'd probably start, but Boston would be a good fit for him, and if he was willing to come here, it opens up some options, he may consider it given:
1. Good shot at a ring
2. He can ease his way in, and play 1 and 2.
3. He can show himself to be a team guy.
Most intriguing -remembering his days with Lez Boulez when he was hailed as the coming savior.
 

chilidawg

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 22, 2015
5,934
Cultural hub of the universe
Here's a sneaky name for a 1 year Tax MLE deal and one title run......

John Wall.

Looking more and more like he'll get bought out to start FA. Now he has some other options where he'd probably start, but Boston would be a good fit for him, and if he was willing to come here, it opens up some options, he may consider it given:
1. Good shot at a ring
2. He can ease his way in, and play 1 and 2.
3. He can show himself to be a team guy.
If he's a guy who interviews and says, I'm all about the ring, I'll do whatever you want me to do to win, then I'd be all in. I'm guessing he's not.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
Warren and Rubio would be great buy-low pieces for our second unit assuming they are healthy this year and the Martin Bros add a certain something that would make them good fits. Ingles on a vet min for a 10th/11th man emergency depth guy replacing Nesmith while ring chains would be better than what we had their thing year.
 

128

Member
SoSH Member
May 4, 2019
10,016
Ingles on a vet min for a 10th/11th man emergency depth guy replacing Nesmith while ring chains would be better than what we had their thing year.

Say what?
 

oumbi

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 15, 2006
4,167
Yep, I;m on the Burks train barring something weird coming along, he's a really good player in the right role, and it's a role we need. Plus if people are all hung up on the "get Tatum's friends" train, Tatum is his kid's godfather.

Honestly Burks is poor man's Beal, at a fraction of the price. My guess is NYK think they can get something back for him, or even better can clear out FOurnier and Noel and keep Burks, but as time pushes on I'm hopeful they end up falling back to Burks for a fake 2nd (or 53).
More than being a poor man's Beal, Burks is also the winner of the coveted MAP award in 2019. (Most Average Player)

"Alec Burks has been a solid, but far from an outstanding contributor. OK on offense, OK on defense, good for about two quarters of play – and the Most Average NBA Player award. While not the shiniest of them all, the award, however, is nothing to scoff at."

https://clutchpoints.com/the-2018-19-most-average-nba-player-award/
 

benhogan

Granite Truther
SoSH Member
Nov 2, 2007
20,112
Santa Monica
ESPN offseason Celtic Guide
https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/34156470/ultimate-2022-nba-free-agency-guide-needs-priorities-spending-options-all-30-teams


Offseason transactions: JD Davison (second round)

What to watch: The luxury tax

After an appearance in the NBA Finals, the big question for the Celtics this offseason is whether ownership has an appetite to spend deep into the luxury tax. Including Al Horford's partially guaranteed contract, the Celtics enter the offseason $7.5 million over the luxury tax. Boston has the $6.5 million tax midlevel exception available, along with three large trade exceptions of $17.1, $9.7 and $6.9 million. Despite being over the tax, Boston can use the trade exceptions in a trade -- but not to acquire a free agent via a sign-and-trade deal.

What else to watch:
  • The Jaylen Brown extension options: three years, $119 million is the max allowed
  • The rookie extension options for Grant Williams
Available exceptions: $6.5 million tax, veterans minimum and trade ($17.2 million, $9.7 million, $6.9 million and $3.8 million)

Over the luxury tax: $6 million

Key dates:
  • June 29: The deadline to exercise the team options of Juwan Morgan ($1.8 million) and Sam Hauser ($1.6 million). Hauser has $300,000 in protection if the option is exercised.
  • July 7: $9.8 million trade exception expires.
  • July 15: Nik Stauskas' $2.2 million contract becomes guaranteed.
  • July 18: $17.2 million trade exception expires.
  • Sept. 1: Malik Fitts' $1.8 million contract has $50,000 in protection if he is on the roster.
  • Oct. 17: The last day to extend the contracts of Brown and Grant Williams.
  • Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the fourth-year team options of Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard.

Players under contract: 14

Two-way players: 0

Team needs:
  • Scoring wing off the bench
  • Playmaking backup point guard
  • Frontcourt depth
Extension eligible: Brown (as of Oct. 1), Horford and Grant Williams (rookie)

Free-agent status:
 

Jimbodandy

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 31, 2006
11,405
around the way
More than being a poor man's Beal, Burks is also the winner of the coveted MAP award in 2019. (Most Average Player)

"Alec Burks has been a solid, but far from an outstanding contributor. OK on offense, OK on defense, good for about two quarters of play – and the Most Average NBA Player award. While not the shiniest of them all, the award, however, is nothing to scoff at."

https://clutchpoints.com/the-2018-19-most-average-nba-player-award/
Advanced metrics don't 100% agree on Burks. DARKO likes him (+1), BPM has him as a slight negative (-0.5).

I like the idea of another half decent defender coming off the bench who hits 3s above league average at 5 APG.
 

benhogan

Granite Truther
SoSH Member
Nov 2, 2007
20,112
Santa Monica
ESPN offseason Celtic Guide
https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/34156470/ultimate-2022-nba-free-agency-guide-needs-priorities-spending-options-all-30-teams


Offseason transactions: JD Davison (second round)

What to watch: The luxury tax

After an appearance in the NBA Finals, the big question for the Celtics this offseason is whether ownership has an appetite to spend deep into the luxury tax. Including Al Horford's partially guaranteed contract, the Celtics enter the offseason $7.5 million over the luxury tax. Boston has the $6.5 million tax midlevel exception available, along with three large trade exceptions of $17.1, $9.7 and $6.9 million. Despite being over the tax, Boston can use the trade exceptions in a trade -- but not to acquire a free agent via a sign-and-trade deal.

What else to watch:
  • The Jaylen Brown extension options: three years, $119 million is the max allowed
  • The rookie extension options for Grant Williams
Available exceptions: $6.5 million tax, veterans minimum and trade ($17.2 million, $9.7 million, $6.9 million and $3.8 million)

Over the luxury tax: $6 million

Key dates:
  • June 29: The deadline to exercise the team options of Juwan Morgan ($1.8 million) and Sam Hauser ($1.6 million). Hauser has $300,000 in protection if the option is exercised.
  • July 7: $9.8 million trade exception expires.
  • July 15: Nik Stauskas' $2.2 million contract becomes guaranteed.
  • July 18: $17.2 million trade exception expires.
  • Sept. 1: Malik Fitts' $1.8 million contract has $50,000 in protection if he is on the roster.
  • Oct. 17: The last day to extend the contracts of Brown and Grant Williams.
  • Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the fourth-year team options of Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard.

Players under contract: 14

Two-way players: 0

Team needs:
  • Scoring wing off the bench
  • Playmaking backup point guard
  • Frontcourt depth
Extension eligible: Brown (as of Oct. 1), Horford and Grant Williams (rookie)

Free-agent status:
BTW I believe ESPN has it wrong on this
  • July 7: $9.8 million trade exception expires.
The C's don't have a full TPE on Tristan Thompson ($1.4M TPE is what I have)
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,841
Five offseason questions Brad Stevens and Celtics have to answer

The Boston Celtics are in a great position to continue contending, but contending won’t be good enough. Now that they’re within range of a championship, there is still a litany of questions about the immediate future the front office needs to address.

1. Is Boston a destination after an NBA Finals run? (Kinda sorta)
2. Can this offensive scheme win a championship? (Yes, with some additional growth)
3. How to utilize the TPE?
4. How to build depth around another Williams?
(Bamba, Dedmon, Claxton, Ibaka, Dieng, Lopez, etc.)
5. Do the Celtics need shooting? (Is this answer ever "no"?)
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
Five offseason questions Brad Stevens and Celtics have to answer




1. Is Boston a destination after an NBA Finals run? (Kinda sorta)
2. Can this offensive scheme win a championship? (Yes, with some additional growth)
3. How to utilize the TPE?
4. How to build depth around another Williams?
(Bamba, Dedmon, Claxton, Ibaka, Dieng, Lopez, etc.)
5. Do the Celtics need shooting? (Is this answer ever "no"?)
Disagree on 2. If we rely on Tatum initiating the offense after bringing the ball up against pressure this offense is not championship level worthy. It would help us Jaylen could lend a hand here but he’s even worse with the ball against perimeter pressure than Smart.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,841
Disagree on 2. If we rely on Tatum initiating the offense after bringing the ball up against pressure this offense is not championship level worthy. It would help us Jaylen could lend a hand here but he’s even worse with the ball against perimeter pressure than Smart.
Sure--but I think that's what they mean by some growth. Those guys get better at doing it.
 

Jimbodandy

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 31, 2006
11,405
around the way
Sure--but I think that's what they mean by some growth. Those guys get better at doing it.
This.

I don't think that anyone disagrees that a tall guard with super handle and a non-terrible shot wouldn't be lovely. Problem is that there's like 3 of those guys and they're untouchable. It seems like Brad isn't interested in a smurf for this job, taking minutes from guys who can play defense. But we'll see.
 

Cesar Crespo

79
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2002
21,588
Paid article so I can't read it. Question 4 is worded weird without any context though. Around another Williams? Why is "another" there? Is it word play? Are they suggesting we need to add depth to Grant Williams too?

Also, isn't that what Daniel Theis was for?

I would absolutely love it if the C's could somehow get Mo Bamba though. He's my #1 target, especially if the C's are insistent on 2 bigs. Bamba/TL/Tatum/JB/Smart would be an absolute monster on defense.

Bamba with a 7'10 wingspan and 9'6 standing reach playing alongside TL with a 7'6 wingspan and 9'4 standing reach. Add in Tatum (6'11, 8'10), Brown (6'11.5, 8'8.5) and Smart (6'9.25, 8'3) and it's deflection city.

Bamba also hit 38% of his 3s on 281 attempts this year, and is a career .352 shooter on 576 attempts. He just turned 24 too. He's not nearly the passer Al Horford is but I think he's the perfect replacement. Barring that, I'd love Jalen Smith but I think he's a year or two away from contributing to a playoff team. That works with Al here for another season though.

Claxton isn't a bad target either. 7'2.5 wingspan, 9'2 standing reach. Turned 23 in April. Seems more like a TL backup than someone to play alongside TL though. His average shot distance was 2.6 feet and 36% of his FGA were dunks. Jalen's was 13.1 feet and Bamba's 14.3.

Is Bamba even a real possibility? What kind of contract is he looking at? I'm guessing more than the 4/54 TL got. Jarrett Allen got 5/100. Neither of them could shoot the 3 though.

Bamba would be too perfect to actually happen. He fits in age wise and would fit in salary wise. I could see Orlando doing a S&T with Bamba because they already have Isaac and WCJ but I can't see the C's having the best offer.

The only question would be Bamba's motor. He was pretty bad prior to this past season. But he was also very raw.
 
Last edited:

Cesar Crespo

79
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2002
21,588
This.

I don't think that anyone disagrees that a tall guard with super handle and a non-terrible shot wouldn't be lovely. Problem is that there's like 3 of those guys and they're untouchable. It seems like Brad isn't interested in a smurf for this job, taking minutes from guys who can play defense. But we'll see.
Heh, one of them was traded last season. Granted, for a top 20-40 player in Sabonis. Semantics though.

Most of the time, a team is going with the smurf or sacrificing playmaking and shooting for height and defense.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,841
Paid article so I can't read it. Question 4 is worded weird without any context though. Around another Williams? Why is "another" there? Is it word play? Are they suggesting we need to add depth to Grant Williams too?

Also, isn't that what Daniel Theis was for?
The TPE answer had some Grant Williams talk.

re: Theis
Investing in Theis was supposed to help alleviate the minutes load on Rob Williams to avoid him wearing down, then serve as an emergency backup at a high level to play a similar role. That didn’t quite work, as Theis’ athleticism has waned enough for him to be a liability in the later rounds of the postseason.

re: Bamba
Bamba’s qualifying offer is right around the taxpayer MLE number, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Orlando match an offer at that number
 

ManicCompression

Member
SoSH Member
May 14, 2015
1,352
Most of the time, a team is going with the smurf or sacrificing playmaking and shooting for height and defense.
What about Rubio? He can play D, has some size, can initiate offense, and might have one of his better shooting years (he oscillates between 35/36 3P% some years and 30 others) with more threats around him. He's coming off an injury and won't be avail until January, but that's why he'd be gettable with the taxpayer MLE.

I'd prefer him to some of the other options being bandied about - so long as he's depth on the team and not the core facilitator come playoffs.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
Sure--but I think that's what they mean by some growth. Those guys get better at doing it.
Meh I don’t agree or want Tatum in this role. I feel Jaylen was exposed more than ever…..not getting better at it.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
What about Rubio? He can play D, has some size, can initiate offense, and might have one of his better shooting years (he oscillates between 35/36 3P% some years and 30 others) with more threats around him. He's coming off an injury and won't be avail until January, but that's why he'd be gettable with the taxpayer MLE.

I'd prefer him to some of the other options being bandied about - so long as he's depth on the team and not the core facilitator come playoffs.
Rubio is the guy right here. If he’s healthy he can play at a championship level in his role. This is the answer to the question and at a perfect stage of his career to fit here.
 

Cesar Crespo

79
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2002
21,588
What about Rubio? He can play D, has some size, can initiate offense, and might have one of his better shooting years (he oscillates between 35/36 3P% some years and 30 others) with more threats around him. He's coming off an injury and won't be avail until January, but that's why he'd be gettable with the taxpayer MLE.

I'd prefer him to some of the other options being bandied about - so long as he's depth on the team and not the core facilitator come playoffs.
I'm not against him necessarily, but a team would be sacrificing shooting at the PG position by playing Rubio over a smurf.

He's also not particularly tall (6'2) but has a great wingspan at 6'9.

Rubio is a better playmaker than White and Smart but I'm not sure he'd be a great fit on a team with White and Smart. I'd want some shooting.
 

lovegtm

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2013
11,997
Another option is to put the ball in White's hands more, with a summer to work on that. Teams go under on screens against him, but they'd do the same to Rubio. (I'd be very down to sign Rubio with the tax MLE if he's up for it though)
 

Jimbodandy

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 31, 2006
11,405
around the way
Another option is to put the ball in White's hands more, with a summer to work on that. Teams go under on screens against him, but they'd do the same to Rubio. (I'd be very down to sign Rubio with the tax MLE if he's up for it though)
I'd prefer to go this route personally. Do we want two guys starting/getting huge minutes who are sub-.330 career shooters (and not much better lately)? Are we trying to set the record for potential-assists-to-assists ratio? Nothing discourages "Jays, you need to pass the ball more" than a 2 for 15 first half bombing performance.

If Rubio is cool with 15 minutes off the bench to shepherd the second unit and as depth, fine by me. We could probably use more ball-handling.
 

Cellar-Door

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
34,460
What's the tax player MLE? Isn't it 6.4 million? That surprises me. Though he was pretty terrible his first 3 years and Orlando only plays garbage time.
Played 26 MPG last year, much improved on D and shot 38% on 4 3PA a game. He showed the first signs of a possible breakout, and given his size, age (he just turned 24 and will be 24 all season) and draft pedigree he'll have interest