Boston Celtics: 3 cheap veteran free agents Cs could pursue
By Jack Simone
The Boston Celtics finished the 2020-21 season with a .500 winning percentage – the worst since 2014-15 (.488).
With Danny Ainge gone and Brad Stevens moving from head coach to GM, big changes are underway in Boston and, with this, roster moves are not only likely but almost inevitable.
Aside from stewing trade rumors involving Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart, the bottom half of the roster needs renovations as well. Players such as Semi Ojeleye, Carsen Edwards, Luke Kornet, Tremont Waters, and Tacko Fall all seem to be on the hot seat.
Aside from Edwards, all will be free agents this summer, opening up roster spots for Stevens to work with.
Boston’s roster ranked seventh-youngest in the NBA last season, as well as being bottom ten in terms of overall NBA experience. Among the ten youngest teams in the NBA last year, the Cs were one of two to make the playoffs (Memphis Grizzlies).
On the flip side, ten of the eleven oldest teams in the league made the playoffs.
The Boston Celtics roster last season only included three players over the age of 27 (Kemba Walker, Tristan Thompson, and Evan Fournier). With Walker’s departure from the team becoming more and more likely, they will be in desperate need of veterans.
The issue is, they don’t have much cap space to work with.
Barring any trade magic by Stevens, the majority of Boston’s free agency work will have to be done with minimum deals. That being said, there are some solid players on the market who could settle for a league minimum.
Just last season, players such as Cameron Payne and Bryn Forbes signed small deals, but are now playing serious minutes in the playoffs.
It’s all about finding the diamond in the rough, and we believe there are 3 players, in specific, the Boston Celtics could be intrigued by: