Would adding Dion Waiters be a good thing for Boston?
The sweepstakes for newly signed Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant have concluded. It leaves the Boston Celtics with plenty of cap space in the bank to add another established veteran or two.
While Danny Ainge will likely guarantee the contracts for frontcourt options Amir Johnson and Jonas Jerebko on Thursday, this still leaves room for another free agent. This provides the Celtics with the opportunity to add another proven piece to their puzzle rather than having to rely on youth to fulfill backup positions on the team.
Consider the current situation at shooting guard. After NBA All-Defensive First-Team selection Avery Bradley, second-year sharpshooter R.J. Hunter and unproven former first round pick James Young stand in line to receive plentiful minutes in reserve roles.
While Hunter shot well in Monday night’s Summer League-opening victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, hitting three of his six three-point attempts for 17 points, he is underwhelming defensively. Furthermore, the 22-year-old was unable to find his stroke in 36 appearances in 2015-16, hitting just 30 percent of his outside shots in the regular season and a putrid 20 percent in 8.2 minutes per game in the postseason.
Young, on the other hand, has spent his first two seasons with the Celtics transitioning from Boston to the squad’s NBA D-League affiliate in Maine. Drafted as a shooting prospect, the Kentucky product connected on just 23 percent of his three-point attempts in 29 games last season. Young struggled to guard fellow shooting guards on the defensive side of the ball as well while failing to capitalize on the playing chances that he received from head coach Brad Stevens.
If Stevens is tentative to hand these two a reserve role at the two-spot, he could either play All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas or Terry Rozier off of the ball, letting Marcus Smart carry the load at the point. Or, he could entice Ainge into signing a free agent still on the market such as Oklahoma City Thunder restricted free agent Dion Waiters.
More from Hardwood Houdini
- Boston Celtics’ two-way contract decision will be made after training camp
- Proposed trade sends Boston Celtics playoff killer to the Cs from rival
- ‘Face of Germany’s stunning run’ in FIBA World Cup not the only ex-Boston Celtics player to win gold
- Proposed Boston Celtics trade target pitched for reunion with fired coach
- Battle For Banner 18: Will Boston Celtics battle historical foe in 2024 Finals?
Known as a head case with a propensity for forcing up unwarranted shot attempts throughout his first three seasons in the league with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the fourth pick in the 2012 draft blossomed in 2015-16 in a newfound role with the Thunder. Despite recording a career low with 9.8 points per game, Waiters improved his three-point shooting percentage to 36 percent for the first time since 2013-14 while taking less perimeter shots.
Waiters performed admirably on the defensive side of the ball, as well, and was consistently prepared to knock down the open jump shot when Durant or Russell Westbrook were forced to find him on the perimeter in big moments, shooting 38 percent from three-point range in the postseason.
Now that Durant has ventured to Golden State to begin the next chapter of his career, the Thunder could be less inclined to match an offer for Waiters than they originally had been. A rebuilding process could be on the horizon with Westbrook set to become a free agent following the upcoming season.
Next: Who has More Potential: Marcus Smart or Terry Rozier?
While acquiring Waiters would only make a crowded backcourt more crammed, it could make for an intriguing option for Ainge if he does not trust the likes of Hunter and Young.