Boston Celtics: 2 potential Evan Fournier sign-and-trade destinations

Boston Celtics’ Evan Fournier sign-and-trade partner #1: Indiana Pacers

Any regular reader of Hardwood Houdini should have known what we were up to the minute the Indiana Pacers popped across the screen. The Boston Celtics may have acquired Mo Wagner and Luke Kornet yesterday, and they may also still have Tristan Thompson and Robert Williams…but they still would immediately improve if Myles Turner was manning the middle.

The Cs now have two bigs that specialize in the finesse game and with their shooting, while also sporting two bigs known for their interior presence and rebounding. None of the four combine the traits quite like the former Texas Longhorn Turner.

Indiana’s interest in Fournier could make sense, considering his ability to play off the ball. The Pacers have Malcolm Brogdon and Aaron Holiday set to carry a hefty facilitating role in the coming years.

What could also make sense is replacing T.J. Warren, who will be in a contract year and would be better off on a team with more immediate plans to contend. Jeremy Lamb is also an expiring contract in 2021-22 who could be seen as a reserve scorer for a top-tier squad.

Fournier figures to command an annual salary in the ballpark of Turner’s $17.5 million cap figure, so a direct swap would be fairly easy to pull off…unless of course, Indiana’s asking price for additional compensation doesn’t cause Danny Ainge to hang up the phone.