Boston Celtics: 5 veterans the Cs should pursue this offseason
By Chris Conte
When it comes to the Boston Celtics, the average years of experience in the NBA for their roster was 3.4 years.
Essentially, the coaching staff relied on players still on their rookie deals to contribute and help their two stars win games. With those same two stars suffering injuries throughout the season, these young players had to shoulder a load they could not carry, hence their struggles and the team’s struggles.
Brad Stevens must lighten the load on these young prospects by bringing in veteran talent to usurp their roles.
It’s up to Stevens whether or not he wants to keep them on the roster as his end-of-the-bench pieces or trade them for more readily available contributors. This article will detail what veterans are on the market, what they could provide, how much they would cost, and why it’s worth pursuing them:
Boston Celtics target No. 1) Waayne Ellington
I’ve detailed Ellington’s potential on the Cs in this space before, and I’ll do it again.
The 33-year-old shooter out of UNC is just what the Boston Celtics need on the wings. He is a career 38.2 percent 3-point shooter that is coming off a great season on the Pistons. Next to Jerami Grant, he averaged a shade under 10 points per game on 42.2 percent shooting from downtown on six attempts per game.
Next to Tatum and Brown, who attract more attention than Grant and are better playmakers, Ellington’s volume should be expected to increase, and more of his shots will be open.
At 6-4, he’s a bit undersized at the shooting guard position, but with Smart, Brown, Tatum, Horford, and Williams around him, Udoka will be able to work around his defensive woes by hiding him.
His experience makes him a player Stevens will like. He won’t play outside of his role, he’ll be a steady voice in the locker room, and he won’t break the bank.
Ellington is entering free agency after netting $2.5 million from the Detroit Pistons.
The Celtics can match that contract for another two seasons, therefore giving Ellington longer-term security while also giving him a solid chance at his first second-round appearance.