With two perimeter creators as their lead stars, the Boston Celtics must prioritize signing and trading for floor spacers.
Fortunately, capable shooters are not hard to come by, and even in a barren free-agent class, there are still multiple options out there for the front office to grab.
Here are 6, in specific, the Cs should consider pursuing
Boston Celtics target No. 1) Garrison Matthews
The undrafted 24-year-old out of Lipscomb has made a name for himself amongst the Wizards fandom despite spending most of his time this past season riding the bench behind Raul Neto.
Washington fans pleaded for Scott Brooks to play him and, although their cries were for nye, that does not mean they were unwarranted.
In his first season on the team, Garrison Matthews played just 18 games, averaged 12.6 minutes, and shot 41.2 percent from deep on 46 attempts. The following season, he canned 38.4 percent of his triples but shot nearly five times as many attempts, shooting 198 3s while playing a hair under 20 minutes per game.
This guy can shoot, has no hitches in his release, and specializes in shooting off the move. He is just what the Boston Celtics need — someone who can hit the open shot and wreak havoc off the ball by running around screens.
He will revive Boston’s player movement and ball movement heavy offense and provide some much-needed spacing for the Jays.
Most of his reps will come off of catch and shoots, where he shoots 38.9 percent, but Boston’s new head coach can also incorporate pin downs and DHO’s with Matthews, something Stevens did not have the luxury of adding until Aaron Nesmith broke into the rotation.
He won’t take any more than $5 million a season to acquire, and the Wizards are unlikely to bring him back.
Measuring in at 6-5, 215 pounds, he can be a neutral defender, just what Stevens likes.
Boston Celtics target No. 2) Nicolas Batum
Although Nicolas Batum is likely to be out of Boston’s price range after having a career-saving bounce-back season, he is still someone they should put themselves in the mix for.
This season with the Clippers, Batum shot 40.4 percent on 272 3-point attempts.
In addition, he thrived next to the Clippers’ two-way wings, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. His chemistry with the two would very easily translate to Boston’s wing duo, and his defense would be a bonus. He is the kind of player Stevens likes, and the type of player the Boston Celtics will need to succeed in the playoffs.
In the playoffs, Batum is shooting an incredible 41.3 percent on 63 3-point attempts. He has thrived on the perimeter and has shown no signs of decline since Kawhi Leonard went down.
In other words, Batum won’t drop in production when Jayson Tatum goes to the bench, so the veteran can help stabilize bench units, something the Cs needed badly last season.
The dilemma comes with his expected earnings in free agency; he will likely net $15 million a year, which is well outside Boston’s budget. If Stevens can convince him to take under $10 million, then incredible, but it’s unlikely, so the Celtics should not get their heart set on him coming.
Boston Celtics target No. 3) Wayne Ellington
Who?
Look, Wayne Ellington may not be a household name or anything of the sort, but his ability to shoot the ball is undeniable. This past season in Detroit — which, may I remind you, does not have the amount of creation and passing Boston does — the shooting guard shot 42.2 percent on 275 3-pointers.
If he can shoot like that next to Jerami Grant, he can shoot like that next to Jayson Tatum.
Wayne Ellington has been in the league for well over a decade now and stands at a modest 6-4.
He is not the lockdown shooting guard Stevens might be hoping for, but he is the veteran presence and proven shooter the Boston Celtics would like.
He has been to the playoffs three times with three different teams and has not gone deep once.
Boston’s main selling point should be that they can change that.
At 33-years-old, Ellington is looking for two things; a ring and money. The Cs can’t guarantee him a ring, but they can convince him that they are his best shot at one. As for the money, given his age and ability, the veteran likely won’t demand more than $5 million per year like Matthews, and the Pistons are unlikely to bring him back after failing to trade him at the deadline.
The Celtics can sign him to a two-year, $8 million contract, making him an extremely tradable asset next summer when the front office will look to free up cap space to pursue a third star.
Wayne Ellington should be at the top of Boston’s free-agent radar before another hopefull contender grabs him.
Boston Celtics target No. 4) Reggie Bullock
After his impressive season, the New York Knicks are likely looking to retain Reggie Bullock, but the Boston Celtics need to meet with him and his agent if they don’t.
Bullock single handily stabilized the Knicks’ spacing, especially their starting unit’s. He shot 41 percent on 398 3-point attempts next to Julius Randle and RJ Barrett, specializing in stationary and movement shooting.
Bullock’s length, experience, and shooting would all greatly benefit the Celtics and their hopes to bounce back from last season.
The issue becomes Bullock’s expected landing spot — it’s unlikely he leaves the Knicks for the Celtics despite the C’s being in a better position future-wise.
The difference-maker is the market; unfortunately, Boston can’t hold a candlestick to New York when attracting free agents even when they are better. However, if the Celtics can meet with Bullock, they will likely try to sway Bullock from the Knicks by promising him a longer playoff run.
Bullock is yet to see the second round in his career, and he’s unlikely to do so with the Knicks next season. After witnessing Randle’s playoff collapse firsthand while also hearing about Tatum’s three 40+ point performances in the play-in and playoffs, Bullock might consider the Cs as a realistic landing spot for him.
However, like Batum, the Boston Celtics should not bet on Bullock signing with them, but they should give him a call if he rejects New York’s offer.
Boston Celtics target No. 5) Doug McDermott
The state of the Indiana Pacers makes Doug McDermott‘s future with them a massive unknown amongst NBA executives.
If they chose to let him walk, the wing would be an excellent fit in Boston. Although he’s not the defender they might be hoping for, he is the shooter they want. He shot 38.8 percent on 286 3-point attempts this past year and showed some flashes of creation off the dribble.
Additionally, Boston could leverage his 6-7 frame against smaller defenders, getting cleaner looks from deep and at the rim.
He is coming off a season making $7 million, so he may be out of their reach if McDermott demands any more than $10 million a year but, if he does not, Boston should send his agent a memo.
With the Pacers’ future a massive unknown and Boston’s future looking rather bright, McDermott could elect to take a little less money for more success. Even if the Pacers choose to continue to fight for a playoff spot, they will still be far worse off than the Boston Celtics, who have two burgeoning young stars that can get McDermott all the open looks he wants.
Boston Celtics target No. 6) Patty Mills
Everything about Mills screams “Brad Stevens player.”
He has spent almost his entire career in Greg Popovich’s system and has been nothing but a delight for his teammates and coaches. He’s been to the playoffs eight times, going deep three times and winning the NBA championship one of those times.
He’s played next to all-time greats and has experience working with All-Star wings like Kawhi Leonard.
However, with San Antonio approaching a rebuild, Mills could be on the move, and Stevens likely knows it. With Mills coming off a season shooting 37.5 percent on 429 3-point attempts, he is likely to garner attention from multiple contenders.
Although he is a bit undersized and not the passer that the Boston Celtics may want, he is the floor spacer and veteran presence they most certainly need.
After kicking it out to sub-par 3-point shooters and having to shoulder the blame for young players not hitting their shots, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown need someone like Patty Mills.
He can hit the open jumpers that they can create for him and he can help the team through rough patches with his leadership. If the Cs offer him the full MLE, that might be enough to get his attention.
The Boston Celtics need to do whatever they can to sign Mills.