The Boston Celtics are a team looking to make some sizeable shakeups after enduring such a disappointing 2020-21 campaign.
Just three weeks since the official kick-off to their offseason, the Cs have already taken part in a few noteworthy makeovers, the first of which being Brad Stevens taking over for Danny Ainge as President of Basketball Operations and the most recent being the trade that shipped Kemba Walker to the OKC Thunder in exchange for a package centered around Al Horford.
Now, as we venture further on into the summer months many should expect even more alterations to the team’s overall makeup to take place, for, now that they’ve cleared up extra cap space by means of last week’s blockbuster, they could look to sign some solid players during August’s free agency period.
Though it’s more than likely that they still won’t be able to sign any top-tier talents to insert into their starting lineup from day one — yes, they cleared cap space but they still aren’t flush with cash –, there are plenty of available impactful role players who could prove to be of great service to the Boston Celtics and, frankly, who should be high on their radar.
While there are several areas within the rotation that Stevens and co. should look to bolster, we at HH believe that finding a reliable sixth-man could be one of the more vital roles worth filling this offseason.
Having a high-end sixth-man on a roster could prove to be integral for a team achieving great success and, looking at the landscape of the league from this current campaign, many of the top teams from the regular-season standings had quality options serving as one of the first options off the pine (ex. Jordan Clarkson (UTA), Derrick Rose (NYK), Tim Hardaway Jr. (DAL), etc.).
This coming free agency period, there are several players who served such roles for their respective ball clubs this year, and the Houdini believes 3, in specific, should strongly be considered as targets for the Boston Celtics:
Boston Celtics sixth-man option No. 1) Josh Hart
First up on the docket we have a player, just within the last few weeks, Bleacher Report discussed as being a free agent the Boston Celtics ‘need to chase’ this offseason.
Through 47 games played with the New Orleans Pelicans this past season, the fourth-year wing posted solid all-around averages of 9.2 points, eight boards, 2.3 assists, and just shy of a steal on 44 percent shooting from the floor.
A two-way talent with a non-stop motor and a 6-5 frame, Hart has proven capable of being a solid 3-and-D contributor (shoots 35 percent from deep for his career) while also showing comfortability when putting the ball on the hardwood and driving the lane.
Still just 26-years-old, a player like Josh Hart would be a solid addition to Boston’s rotation come next season at a price likely to be no more expensive than the MLE.
Boston Celtics sixth-man option No. 2) Lou Williams
Arguably the greatest sixth-man in NBA history, in year 16 Lou Williams is still finding himself serving as an integral part of a successful team whilst coming off the bench.
Dealt at this year’s trade deadline from the Los Angeles Clippers to Atlanta, the combo guard has proven to be of great service to this youthful and seemingly overachieving Hawks squad.
On the season as a whole, the 34-year-old found himself posting per-game averages of 11.3 points, 3.4 assists, 2.1 rebounds, and just shy of a steal on nearly 40 percent shooting from deep.
Now, while some may be hesitant to see a guy brought on to the Boston Celtics who was mulling over retirement just a few months ago, one mustn’t forget that this idea of his was more about his emotions pertaining to being traded from a franchise he wished to end his career with rather than a deterioration of his skillset.
Looking at him play both during the regular season and in this year’s postseason (averaging seven points on 45 percent shooting from the floor and 41 percent shooting from deep in just 12.7 minutes), it’s clear that, despite his age, he still seems to be as smooth, fluid, and as comfortable as he has over the last several years.
Let’s not forget that the man is only a season removed from averaging over 18 points a night and just two seasons removed from winning his third Sixth-Man of the Year Award, tied for the most ever won by a single player.
In the right setting, it is highly conceivable that Lou Williams could once again be a 13 or 15 point per game scorer off the pine.
Perhaps said setting could be in Boston.
Boston Celtics sixth-man target No. 3) Alec Burks
Perhaps the most attractive option mentioned on this list, Alec Burks proved himself to be an absolute steal for the New York Knicks in 2020-21.
Signing with the team on a one-year, $6 million deal last offseason, the 10th year veteran went about and became one of the Knickerbockers’ go-to offensive weapons, posting 12.7 points to go along with 4.6 boards and 2.2 assists on 42 percent shooting from the floor and 41.5 percent shooting from deep.
Though he may have been relatively inconsistent over the first several years of his career, these last two the wing has been boasting averages of 14.1 points on 40 percent shooting and has played an important part in both New York’s and Philadelphia’s postseason berths over this time span.
A player who can stroke it from deep as well as drive the lane and flush it home at the rim, the 29-year-old Burks could be the spark-plug scorer this Boston Celtics team has been missing over the last two seasons — in 2019-20 the C’s second unit finished 29th in points per game (28.5) and in 2020-21 they finished 28th (31.1).
A fantastic catch-and-shoot talent (boasts an effective field goal percentage of 56.8), as well as solid isolation scorer, at 6-6 with a 6-10 wingspan Burks could be a great multi-position player that could help get Boston’s bench back on track come next season.