Celtics could land these NBA trade targets at a more modest price
We've discussed big-ticket targets the Celtics could acquire head of the March 25 NBA trade deadline using their $28.5 million traded player exception. But are there impact players Boston could land at a more reasonable price and still have money left to spend this summer? Chris Forsberg runs through some more economical options for the C's.
The NBA trade deadline is a little more than two weeks away and we’re entering crunch time for Danny Ainge and his staff to infuse some additional talent on Boston’s 2020-21 roster.
We’ve spent a lot of time in this space talking about the big-splash moves the team could make, like acquiring Nikola Vucevic ($26 million), Harrison Barnes ($22.2 million), and Jerami Grant ($19.1 million). But Celtics brass has hinted the team desires to duck the luxury tax this season, affording more flexibility for a team with a payroll that will bloat this summer when Jayson Tatum’s extension kicks in. Ainge has routinely suggested that there might be better TPE options available this summer.
We’re firmly in the "use the TPE now" camp but we’ll relent that there are obstacles in such a pursuit. Do the Celtics want to pay the ransom it would take to pry Vucevic out of Orlando -- we’d guess that starts with three first-round picks and young talent -- and then deal with the financial repercussions further down the road? Even adding Barnes creates some fiscal challenges in future seasons (but not ones that we would allow to prevent a deal for the right trade package).
For the purpose of this exercise, we’re aiming to preserve $15 million of the $28.5 million Gordon Hayward traded player exception for a summer splurge and seeking trade targets who would cost $13.6 million or less, which also could afford the Celtics some flexibility to add another low-budget player via buyout or trade market and still come in under the tax.
2020-21 salary: $13.6 million
Reportedly not available, but Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase taught me at a young age that everybody has a price. The Bulls seemingly should be one early second-half skid away from taking whichever assets they can get for a 33-year-old forward.
2020-21 salary: $13.5 million
This 30-year-old Celtics scorcher is shooting just 34.4 percent on 3-pointers this season but is averaging 15.5 points over nearly 30 minutes per game. Boston’s bench doesn’t put up a lot of points but has been efficient at scoring the ball.
For Ross' salary commitment, we’d almost rather the team commit to its younger players like Romeo Langford and Aaron Nesmith but adding a microwave scorer is intriguing if the cost isn’t steep.
2020-21 salary: $13 million
Winslow has played a mere 17 games since April 2019 and has displayed obvious rust in the six games since debuting for the Grizzlies in late February. But if he could get back to 2018-19 Winslow, he’d be a really ideal fit for Boston as a rugged wing defender who can also aid ball movement.
He has a team option for next season which limits the risk in adding him and the price tag should be far from the four first-rounders Ainge was dangling in front of Michael Jordan in 2015. The question is whether the Grizzlies would be sellers given that they sit 10th in the West with a 3-game lead over the Pelicans. Memphis does owe Boston a solid for gift-wrapping Desmond Bane this offseason.
J.J. Redick's 2020-21 salary: $13 million
Perfunctory inclusion here. The Pelicans have far more intriguing options (see below!) who don’t involve sacrificing nearly half of your trade exception to add a 36-year-old rental.
Lonzo Ball's 2020-21 salary: $11 million
Splurging on impending restricted free agents is rarely a good business move but we’d make an exception if Ball is available. Ball gives you a much-needed big guard with the ability to defend multiple positions. He’s shooting 38.7 percent on 7.8 3-pointers per game and his passing abilities could jumpstart Boston’s ball movement.
The question is whether the Celtics are willing to pay up with no guarantee they can afford to pay Ball long-term. There would be options to recouping value via sign-and-trade, and it ultimately might be worth taking a three-month look and figuring out the future later.
Josh Hart's 2020-21 salary: $3.5 million
Another impending restricted free agent who should really intrigue the Celtics if New Orleans is willing to move him. Hart’s 3-point shot hasn’t been great this year (33.3 percent) but he has good size and defensive versatility. (The Pelicans had him guarding Jayson Tatum for a good chunk of their last meeting with Boston).
Hart also is a relentless rebounder who could ease concerns on the glass when the Celtics play small. As with Ball, a more aggressive payday awaits but the Celtics could absorb him into the Enes Kanter trade exception and preserve all of the Hayward TPE.
2020-21 salary: $11.7 million
Despite his pleas for people to stop putting him in mock trades, Nance is going to draw obvious interest from contenders on a thin seller's market. He possesses the sort of shooting with size that Ainge might covet. Even better, he’s under contract for two more seasons at descending salary.
Alas, that means the price tag could be high to pry him out of Cleveland. The Cavaliers will probably ask suitors if they’d consider Taurean Prince ($12.6 million) instead.
Delon Wright's 2020-21 salary: $9 million
It’s understandable the Pistons want to keep Grant but would they sell high on someone like Wright, who is having a really solid year while shooting 38.4 percent on 3-pointers and really filling up the stat line (4.9 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals per game)?
Wayne Ellington's 2020-21 salary: $1.6 million
Bargain basement rental who’s shooting 43.3 percent from three this year and could bolster the bench without breaking the bank. Alas, the Celtics need more than Ellington if they’re going to make a charge at the East elite.
2020-21 salary: $8.3 million
Mark Cuban probably turns you away quicker than a stammering Shark Tank contestant but it’s worth making a pitch for a 6-foot-10 power forward shooting 45.1 percent on 3-pointers.
2020-21 salary: $8 million
The Rockets are a surefire seller but we’re not sure anyone is rushing to add their available veterans. It’s never a great look when a player’s age (36) is decidedly higher than his 3-point percentage (31.4). Tucker's versatility in small-ball lineups is intriguing but a playoff team would be rolling the dice that a change of scenery is enough to supercharge his shooting splits.
This feels like a fallback option at best and only because the cost to acquire should be minimal.
2020-21 salary: $7.2 million
The 32-year-old big man has spent most of the season glued to the bench. In nine games back in the rotation before the All-Star break, he averaged 10.6 points over 21.2 minutes per game, shooting 41.7 percent beyond the 3-point arc and restoring some of his trade value.
Again, this feels like the sort of addition that can’t be Ainge’s only move but it certainly checks the boxes on shooting and size. Not much of a needle-mover here unless the Kings are willing to take back some of Boston’s roster glut in a deal.
Are Celtics focused on Kings' Barnes as top trade target?
2020-21 salary: $4.1 million
He’s already reportedly balked at a $90 million extension offer from the Hawks so any team acquiring Collins would have to be prepared to offer him upwards of a max salary to retain. Between the cost to simply get him out of Atlanta and the future commitment, we simply don’t see this as a feasible option for Boston.
2020-21 salary: $2.3 million
Hey, it’s size and shooting at an affordable price. But probably not the ideal solution to upgrading the four spot.
