The Boston Celtics are off to a hot start to 2020-21, but could still use for some added fire-power. With this, there are a few under-the-radar players the team should consider dealing for.
Though the first six games of the season may have been deemed as a bit disappointing, as the Boston Celtics saw some bad losses and their record at just .500 (3-3), now 10 games in they boast a record of 7-3 and are in the midst of an impressive four-game winning streak.
All this coming without the help of their All-Star point guard Kemba Walker, who still has no timetable to return as he continues to rehab his left knee, is quite impressive.
However, despite these early successes and triumphs, it still feels as though the Cs are a ways away from finding themselves atop the title-contenders conversation.
There are plenty of ways they can go about doing this, however, including savvy free-agent signings and blockbuster trades.
However, it is the Houdini’s belief that one or two cost-efficient trades would be the best way for the team to go about moving themselves up the league’s title-odds lists.
There are 3 specific buy-low targets we think could wind up making big impacts on this team in 2020-21:
Boston Celtics buy-low target No. 1) P.J. Tucker, Houston Rockets
First up, we have a player in which we at HH have discussed on several occasions about being an optimal trade target for the Boston Celtics this season.
Now, in his 14th season in the league, P.J. Tucker has established a reputation of being one of the toughest guys in the game today, a strong leader, and a consistent 3-and-D contributor, all three of which are attributes that are highly beneficial to a championship-hopeful squad.
Being the best traditional power forward that can be deemed as realistically attainable, in the final year of his deal worth $7.9 million he’d be a stupendous grab for the Celtics and, with all of the Harden-hoopla going about, it is quite reasonable to believe the Rockets could just end up blowing up the roster.
Should this happen, Ainge should certainly pursue the 35-year-old.
Boston Celtics buy-low target No. 2) Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic
Currently, in the fifth and final year of his $85 million deal with the Magic, the 28-year-old Evan Fournier is in search of another long-term deal this offseason but, according to rumors, is not looking to do so in Orlando.
A sharp-shooter who has averaged 16 points per game on 45 percent shooting from the field and 38 percent shooting from deep, a guy like Fournier would fit right into this current scheme for the Boston Celtics that currently has them ranked third in the league in 3-point percentage (39.2%) but just 25th in 3-point attempts per game (31.1).
By bringing the wing on, the Cs would acquire a guy who would only help aid in their floor spacing approach, while also giving them the luxury of experimenting with their lineups, as Fournier is big enough to play anywhere from the two to a small-ball four.
On the year, he is posting averages of 14.8 points and 1.4 steals per game on 51 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent shooting from deep which, though good, could be seen as underwhelming in comparison to his 2019-20 stats (18.5 points on 40 percent shooting from deep).
With the fact that he reportedly wants out already, perhaps the Magic will look to try and flip him for assets this season instead of losing him for nothing in free agency.
With little leverage, Orlando most certainly would not be in the driver’s seat in any trade talks and, with this, the Celtics should consider trying to buy-low on the nine-year veteran.
Boston Celtics buy-low candidate No. 3) DeMarcus Cousins, Houston Rockets
Ok, so before you jump to the comments section and blow up on this idea, we implore you to hear us out.
We understand that DeMarcus Cousins has had his bouts with injuries over the past several seasons. We also understand that he has a reputation of being a “trouble maker.”
All things considered, however, a player of his caliber at just $1.6 million on a one-year deal is easily something a center-starving team like the Boston Celtics should at the very least consider pursuing.
Playing for a new deal this offseason, it is obviously in Boogie’s best interest to ball out and be on his best behavior in 2020-21.
With this, I’m sure you’ll want to bring up that he is averaging only 5.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game and the fact that he has been ejected twice already this season as reasons to be trepidatious about such a move.
However, if one would actually look into the specifics as to why these aforementioned aspects to his current campaign exist, you’d be less apprehensive and more aligned with our logic.
First, let’s start with the ejections.
The first came during a January 4th game against the Dallas Mavericks, where the big-man was called for two technical fouls.
‘T’ number one came when he stepped in to defend teammate John Wall, who was entangled with Willie Cauley-Stien under the basket. ‘T’ number two came after he showed a facial expression and raised his hands in disagreement and shock after not receiving an and-one call on a layup.
His second ejection came this past Sunday, where he was called for a flagrant-two foul when contesting a layup attempt by LeBron James.
Granted, Cousins did already have a technical foul from earlier in this game after getting into it with Markieff Morris but, even this was justified, as he was simply sticking up for his teammate who was shoved by the forward with no call in response.
As anyone could tell from the clip that is circulating around the internet, a flagrant foul being called against the former All-Star was asinine, as the only thing Boogie did was scrape off some hair dye from the top of James’ scalp.
Now, as for his underwhelming numbers this season, we can sum this up rather quickly: it’s due to the emergence of Christian Wood.
Signed to a lucrative 3-year, $41 million deal this offseason, it was obvious that the Rockets were planning on him being a highly utilized player in their system and, being he plays center, minutes were expected to be sporadic for Cousins.
Add in the fact that the younger Wood (25-years-old) is posting stellar averages of 23.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game on 54 percent shooting from the field and you see exactly why Cousins has seen a career-low in minutes to start the year.
If you want to go even further, when you peep the center’s per 36-minute conversions, he is posting 16.6 points, 15.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 3.8 blocks per game.
While these types of arguments involving such conversions are typically based on hypotheticals, we’ve actually seen the man perform at even greater heights throughout his career, and is just three years removed from averaging 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game on 47 percent shooting from the floor and 35 percent shooting from deep.
Yes, the man sustained a few serious injuries since then, including a torn Achilles and ACL but, frankly, at his price-range coupled with his potential, getting someone who at worst can bring you averages of a double-double and serve as a competent floor-spacing big is easily a move worth considering.
The presence of Wood already makes him somewhat expendable. Similar to our thoughts on P.J. Tucker, should Harden make his way out of Houston, the Rockets could find themselves taking part in some sort of fire sale this season.