Boston Celtics: “Pass or Pursue” on 7 recently rumored TPE targets
By Mark Nilon
In possession of a $28.5 million trade exception, the Boston Celtics could theoretically pursue any number of players across the league.
With the preseason now in the rearview, the Boston Celtics set their sights on the 2020-21 regular season, where they come in projected to be a top-5 team in ESPN’s latest rankings.
After coming to within two games of their first NBA Finals appearance in over a decade, the bar has been set reletively high this year for them to replicate or improve upon their success from last season.
Unfortunately, they’ll have to do this with somewhat of a different look, as Gordon Hayward now finds himself logging minutes with the Hornets after an offseason sign-and-trade between Boston and Charlotte.
With this move, however, it blessed the Cs with a record-high $28.5 million trade exception, meaning they could feasibly deal for a player or players with contracts adding up to this number, without giving back the same amount.
Of course, with this TPE the rumor-mill has constantly bee spinning and, recently, NBC Sports Boston published an article that discusses 7 different players the shamrocks could potentially deal for using said exception.
Because of this, it sparked the desire for us at the Houdini to push out yet another installment of our favorite series we call “Pass or Pursue”, where we discuss whether or not the Celtics should sit out on talks for a specific player, or if they should actively try to acquire them.
So, without further adieu, let’s get started:
Potential TPE target for Boston Celtics No. 1) Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings
First up, we discuss the likes of veteran wing and 2014 NBA Champion, Harrison Barnes.
Now entering his second full season with the Sacramento Kings, the 28-year-old is coming off of a 2019-20 campaign where he posted solid averages of 14.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, on 46 percent shooting from the field and 38 percent shooting from 3-point range.
Writer Darren Hartwell’s reasoning behind why the Boston Celtics could consider the idea of adding on Barnes with their TPE is based on the fact that their second unit could use for some added scoring weapons and, being that he has averaged at least 14.5 points per game over the past four straight seasons, he could theoretically “fit the mold.”
However, we here at HH are under the belief that while the forward can be a suitable filler off the bench as well as in a starting role should injuries occur, there are likely better fitting options out there in terms of addressing a position in more need of bolstering as well as someone who, frankly, is just more talented for around the same price.