Boston Celtics: 1 star, role player, and depth piece to pursue at PG

Boston Celtics Depth Piece PG Target: Ish Smith

While I already knew Ish Smith was a solid player before he started destroying the C’s in the play-in game with the Wizards, that game further showed me that Smith is just the definition of a solid backup point guard.

He’s a good playmaker, has quickness to get to the rim, and as his career has gone on he’s improved as a 3-point shooter.

He’s not going to score a ton of points, but he will get the job done by not turning the ball over, setting up teammates, playing solid defense, and hitting open shots.

Being only six feet tall, he may seem a bit redundant as a backup point guard with Payton Pritchard who’s only six foot one, but that is why he’s a depth piece.

He’s a better player than Tremont Waters and Carsen Edwards, other third-string point guard options on the roster last year, and he’s better at playing point guard than Pritchard, who’s more of a score-first shooting guard in a point guard’s body.

On top of all that, given that Ish Smith will be 33 years old entering next season, not only does that mean he will probably get no more than a veteran’s minimum contract, but he will provide a veteran presence that the bench desperately needs.

Playing under a minimum contract also means that it is worth acquiring Smith, whether the C’s follow through with either offseason plan I previously mentioned.

A problem with the Boston Celtics this season was playmaking, so bringing in any player that can help with that, even if they won’t play a lot of minutes and are only worth a minimum contract, should be a priority for the C’s this offseason.

Depth was also a huge issue this past season, so bringing in better players across the roster, even a better third string point guard, is crucial for a better season to help relieve some of the work from the stars, as well as overcome injuries if they constantly occur again next season as they did this past season.