9 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 handy out huge contracts in worry of hitting the dreaded second apron? Will groups be keen to throw extra money at their very own free brokers whose Chicken Rights they possess, figuring out that their means to switch expertise is harder? My guess is the second query can be answered within the affirmative and we are going to see plenty of groups retaining Chicken Proper free brokers. This goes double as a result of many groups are shedding the mid-level exception because of the second apron, the Celtics are a type of groups.

Lengthy story brief, the Celtics are very restricted in what they will 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 keen to take a vet minimal, which is the one contract the Celtics can provide. I additionally tried to take into consideration the Chicken Rights of their present workforce, whether or not full or early. A free agent with out Chicken Rights is much extra more likely to change groups as a result of their former workforce is restricted in how a lot they will provide. In different phrases, with out Chicken Rights, the participant’s former workforce has no bargaining benefit over every other workforce 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-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 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 stable 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 monitor document 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 methods 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 through the common season. I feel he might slot in fairly seamlessly in two-guard lineups enjoying subsequent to both Derrick or Jrue and will deal with an even bigger position if one of many guards sits or is injured.

Picture by Mitchell Leff/Getty Pictures

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 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 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 suppose Shake is a high-level position participant, however he’s proven flashes of being a stable offensive participant in his 6 years within the NBA. He’s bought first rate 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 outdated and has proven sufficient that he’ll in all probability 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. In contrast to Curry and Milton, the place you might be 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 brief comings have been at all times 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, move, shoot man on offense, which the Celtics worth. He can run a choose 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 can 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.

Picture by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

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 nicely might signal a 3 12 months $40m contract a day after this text goes reside. A part of me thinks that OKC desires to maneuver on although. He simply didn’t match all that nicely with them and performed a massively diminished position within the NBA Playoffs. OKC’s workforce 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 extra threat that one other workforce might provide him the mid-level, taxpayer or non, and the Celtics would have completely no approach 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 practical 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, move, 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 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 value 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 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 substitute if Oshae decides he desires 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 a good job.

Bigs

Andre Drummond – UFA/Early-Chicken

8.4-9.0-0.5

55.6%-N/A-59.2%

I feel everyone knows what Drummond may give a workforce. Elite rebounding, stable display screen setter, and never almost nearly as good defensively because it seems like he must be. Drummond had a good 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 potential, nevertheless it’s the reality.

I’d solely goal Drummond if Luke Kornet or Xavier Tillman walks. I feel Kornet suits 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 stable backup huge behind the one which stays.

One observe, Chicago has Drummond’s Early Chicken Rights, which suggests they will provide him a contract value greater than the minimal. In the event that they achieve this, there’s nearly no probability he’ll move 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 can be mutual curiosity between Drummond and Boston.

Picture by Quinn Harris/Getty Pictures

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 stable NBA huge. Had his second finest 3-point taking pictures season final 12 months and gave the Clippers stable minutes when referred to 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 at all times 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 good defensive participant. Theis is nicely cherished by the fanbase, and I might see him eager to return if considered 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 could be a stable plan B if a type of guys will get a bigger provide elsewhere. third occasions the allure, convey 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 suggests he’ll grow to be a UFA. That’s possible a sign that Charlotte is transferring on from Thor, however they might technically provide him above a minimal deal since they’ve his Chicken Rights.

His stats are tepid, however I feel 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 stable defensive participant, Thor might actually blossom.

The issue is that the Cs can solely provide him a 2-year deal, which suggests you’ll be able to’t get his full Chicken Rights, so if he actually hits, he’s in all probability 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%

This can be a deep minimize. Vukcevic has performed 10 NBA video games and solely performed a mean of quarter-hour in these video games. The stats don’t bounce out at you, however he’s bought some pedigree. He was the forty second total choose within the 2023 NBA Draft. He’s a legit 7-footer and has proven flashes of being competent with the ball in his fingers and taking pictures it from 3. He won’t ever be a switchable defender, however he’s large enough that he might go to Luke Kornet rim safety camp and supply some worth on that finish. He’s bought an especially lengthy option to go however stretch bigs with actual dimension are onerous to seek out, you would possibly be capable of develop one if you happen to take a shot on Vuk.

It’s value nothing that Keith Smith talked about in March he thinks Vuk is on his approach 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 feel they need to pounce.

So, there you’ve got it. I don’t suppose I’ve ever appropriately referred to 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 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.