This summer, the Boston Celtics won’t have an abundance of cap space like they did in 2019. What they do have is the mid-level exception, and while this free agent class isn’t loaded with top-line talent, here are a few potential addition role players.
After such an explosive off-season last summer, it wasn’t to be expected that the 2020 free agent period would live up to the same hype…for the Boston Celtics or for any of the league’s other big winners last year.
Really, that free agent period was the perfect storm of big market teams having cap space and the free agent market itself was among the strongest in the last decade. We saw super-teams form from nothing–like the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers–but we also saw key strategic additions in free agency.
None was as sly as Danny Ainge‘s acquisition of All-NBA third team point guard Kemba Walker. While Kyrie Irving‘s exodus and eventual union with Brooklyn was thoroughly thought out, Walker’s signing was more organic.
When it came down to it, his former team, the Charlotte Hornets, didn’t want to show him the money. Boston had a great situation and a vacancy at his position. The rest, as they say, was history.
This summer, there will be signings more akin to the other free agent additions. There will be transactions on the scale of Enes Kanter, or maybe even Vincent Poirier. Regarding signings like those, the need isn’t always filled. Similar moves should happen this year. Here are 3 such similar signings for the C’s mid-level exception:
Jeff Teague, PG
For those of you who follow our work (we love you) you’ve probably noticed that we’ve discussed the possibility of the Boston Celtics pursuing Jeff Teague this offseason quite often as of recent. Frankly, as the days go on, this idea begins to make more and more sense.
Currently rostered by the Atlanta Hawks in his second go around with the franchise — drafted by ATL in 2009 and initially stayed till 2016 –, though just 31 years old, Teague seemingly finds himself in the twilight era of his NBA career moving from a perennial starting point guard to a savvy veteran backup in just a half season of play.
Though no longer an All-Star or, obviously, an every day starter, the 11 year vet still has proven capable of holding his own on the hardwood in both limited action as well as in extended periods of play.
Through 59 outings in 2019-20, Teague saw himself posting still productive averages of 10.9 points and 5.2 assists on 44 percent shooting from the floor and 37 percent shooting from deep.
From over a decade of play, the point guard has participated in playoff basketball on nine separate occasions, four of which saw deep runs. With him in tow, this young Celtics roster (average age hovers around 24 years old) would be adding a seasoned veteran they could very much use as well as an improvement at the backup one spot they so desperately need — currently have Brad Wanamaker are their primary backup to Kemba Walker.
With Walker’s lingering knee issues specifically, the team might want aim at improving their backup guard slot this offseason. Jeff Teague could prove to be an effective/ cost efficient insurance policy for the 4x All-Star.
Paul Millsap, PF
Outside of discussing the Boston Celtics need to bolster the backup point guard position, all season we’ve been voicing our opinions on the fact that the team seriously needs to add some talent to their front court rotation.
Sure, Daniel Theis has been a solid starter for the team throughout the season and guys like Enes Kanter, Robert Williams (when healthy) and rookie Grant Williams have all produced solid outputs from time to time but, still, it’s quite apparent that the team needs to add something extra to the rotation if they wish to shore up some of their loose ends.
Enter Paul Millsap.
The 14 year floor spacing power forward currently finds himself in the third and final year of his contract with the Denver Nugget where, day by day during the season, his minutes on the court began to dwindle significantly.
The fact of Millsap’s minutes being diminishing could be the result of many factors: injuries, Michael Porter Jr’s progression, etc.
Regardless of which reason you decide to go with, one thing appears certain: the big man’s time in the Mile-High City looks as though it could be coming towards it’s final stop.
Though in limited action, the 4x All-Star did actually have a solid campaign this season with the Western Conference’s third seeded Nuggets. Through 44 games he was boasting averages of 12 points and 5.9 rebounds on 49 percent shooting from the field and a career high 44 percent shooting from deep in just 24.4 minutes per game.
With the fact that the Celtics need more talent in their front court rotation and perimeter scoring help in their secondary unit (rank 27th in the league registering at a 31.6 percent clip) it would appear that someone of the power forward’s skill set could be of some use for the team as it’s primary backup big.
Despite his lessened minutes on the hardwood, Paul Millsap proved he’s still capable of producing admirably for a contending team and should easily be considered for the C’s mid-level exception.
Tristan Thompson, C
The frontcourt log-jam in Cleveland should be alleviated in one way or another. While Andre Drummond seems like a lock to pick up his $28 million player option, there is more uncertainty with the other two heads in the Cavalier’s big-man hydra.
Kevin Love, like he has always been, is occupying the trade block. While no deal was reached this past season, it always seems like a potential blockbuster is right around the corner. Then again, as one of the last remaining pieces from the 2016 NBA Championship team, maybe he will stay in the Land for sentimental reasons more so than on-court ones.
The other more likely option would be the departure of Tristan Thompson whose his initial 2015 extension expires, making him an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career. Unfortunately for Thompson, he didn’t pick a good off-season to be a free agent.
Fortunately for the Boston Celtics, that means they might be able to steal away a talent that was making around $18 million per year for a fraction of the cost. The crazy thing is, Thompson’s numbers have peaked with the nine-year veteran posting his highest career point total and matching his career-high in rebounding.
With Daniel Theis already in tow, Thompson wouldn’t be guaranteed a starting role, but he would have a valuable role in the rotation no matter what he’d be asked to contribute.