Boston Celtics: 5 free agent targets for the mid-level exception

The Boston Celtics aren’t armed with cap space this offseason, but who can they target with the mid-level exception?

At the stage of rebuilding that the Boston Celtics are at–ie. fully built and ready to contend right now–there isn’t a need for a major marquee free-agent addition…which is great because the team has already maxed out all of its cap space on Kemba Walker, Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, and Jayson Tatum.

Instead, fringe additions are the name of the game for Danny Ainge and the Celtics front office this offseason. In terms of what they should target with these additions, the most important thing they can do is spend their entire mid-level exception on one key addition. The reason? Boston has three upcoming draft picks in the 2020 NBA Draft, and they will have to make a decision on some point on what to do with the two-way contracts of Tacko Fall and Tremont Waters.

Their ideal key addition would be a sixth man-quality backup point guard, but unless the jump is substantial enough from Brad Wanamaker, that can also be addressed in the draft. Depth on the wing would be nice for a Cs team that lost Gordon Hayward for various stretches this season–including the postseason.

Then there’s the tricky issue of the big-man situation. After the utter domination Boston displayed against Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs, it is safe to say that the center spot is effectively held down by the platoon of Daniel Theis, Enes Kanter, Robert Williams, and Grant Williams.

That said, if there is an obvious upgrade available, it wouldn’t be difficult to clear up roster space via trade of one of their low-salaried pivots.

Here are 5 players–a combination of wings/guards and bigs that the Boston Celtics should target with their mid-level exception: