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

D.J. Augustin, PG

A clear-cut upgrade at the backup point guard position would be the jump from career-journeyman Brad Wanamaker to former lottery pick D.J. Augustin, who is just one year older than the current Boston backup. The Magic floor general saw his shooting numbers fall a bit this past season after losing his starting role, but he was still able to maintain a scoring average above 10 points and around four to five assists per game.

Just last season he shot the 3-pointer at a 42 percent clip in four attempts per game. That sort of marksmanship would be welcomed on a Boston Celtics bench that was ranked the third-worst on 3-point efficiency (31 percent).

Justin Holiday, SG/SF

If you were to find a more idealized version of the role Javonte Green was assigned to for the Celtics in 2019-20, you’d land on a player like Justin Holiday. After seven years of being a mostly defensive-oriented utilityman, Holiday has become a 40 percent 3-point shooter for Indiana.

The Pacers don’t own his bird rights, which means they have no competitive advantage for his services. If he is looking to become a role player for a contender, Beantown would be a welcoming fit.

Avery Bradley, PG/SG

This may be a bit sentimental, but Avery Bradley can still hoop and contributed greatly to a Los Angeles Lakers team that has had backcourt difficulties since the former Celtic opted out of the Lake Buena Vista bubble in Walt Disney World.

While he wouldn’t have the same starting role in Boston, he would be a good influence on the glut of young guards the Celtics have drafted in recent years and he’d form quite the defensive backcourt with Marcus Smart off the bench…assuming their core remains intact.