Just when the world thinks Danny Ainge played himself, the light bulb goes off. As he often does, “Trader Danny” has given the Boston Celtics flexibility with regards to changing the roster this offseason if need be.
Today’s biggest blockbuster trade–acquiring Evan Fournier–could actually be a move that benefits the team no matter how he fits in for the remainder of the 2020-21 NBA season.
You see, while Fournier’s addition is mainly meant to boost the team’s second unit (or starting lineup) he can also be used as a future trade chip.
Brian Robb of masslive pointed out that fact on his Twitter page:
Other element with Evan Fournier addition: If Celtics don't re-sign him this offseason, they will have the ability to create...you guessed it...another sizable TPE in a sign-and-trade since they get his Bird Rights as part of the deal.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) March 25, 2021
In what can only be described as a game of TPE musical chairs, it appears as though Ainge has acquired a sweet-shooting wing to compete with Marcus Smart for minutes on the wing that may or may not re-sign in the offseason.
Essentially, Ainge has reshuffled the deck by getting a less versatile Gordon Hayward to fill the hole left by Gordon Hayward…with the possibility of signing-and-trading him to create another traded player exception.
Fournier’s market is a question mark this offseason, but at just 28-years-old, a long-term deal isn’t out of the realm of possibility. Plenty of teams will be in demand for the Frenchman, especially considering the fact that guys like Danilo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Tim Hardaway Jr. all earned contracts north of $60 million in free agency.
Whether or not the Boston Celtics will be the one to pay him will be determined by the results of the 2020-21 season/postseason. Either way, Ainge has given himself a chance to redo the whole TPE chase this summer, keeping the team’s books intact as it looks to morph into a top dog in the Eastern Conference once again.