Boston Celtics: 3 potential point guard options with the MLE

It’s been quiet in the month that followed the seismic offseason kickstarting deal new Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens made to land Al Horford. Losing Kemba Walker in the starting lineup has not yet been addressed and perhaps might not be until the start of free agency.

It certainly won’t be addressed at the NBA Draft. Not unless something drastic happens. Stevens needed to attach their only first-round pick this year to offload Walker.

Of course, there are always in-house options. Marcus Smart can play the point if the Cs re-sign Evan Fournier to play the 2, or they could go big and have Horford and Robert Williams man the middle with Smart, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum on the perimeter. Payton Pritchard is on the bench as an emergency option.

All of that said, the point guard market is the most robust in free agency. Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry, Mike Conley, and Dennis Schroder are all in line for decent-to-damn good paydays, and there are plenty of more affordable options on the market.

That’s who the Houdini is going to explore adding today for the Cs this summer. The MLE is their most realistic way to add a point guard capable of competing for the starting job.

Here are 3 realistic options:

Boston Celtics MLE point guard target #1: Yam Madar

Apparently, it could be very expensive to add 2020 second round draft stash Yam Madar:

Even with the price point potentially being the MLE, Madar could bring a ton to the lineup as a slick passer and adept shooter.

Calling him the Israeli Steph Curry is hyperbole, but even his name being included with a former back-to-back league MVP shows the ceiling some see him having. That’s worth a portion of the MLE at least given his youth at just 20 years old.

Boston Celtics MLE point guard target #2: Spencer Dinwiddie

Sidelined from all but three games of the 2020-21 season with an ACL tear after being forced out of the 2020 bubble postseason, Spencer Dinwiddie has had very few in-game reps since before the pandemic shutdowns began last March.

Last time he was on the floor for an extended period of time, he was leading the 2019-20 Brooklyn Nets with 20 points per game and dishing just under seven dimes to go along with it.

Could we see Dinwiddie return to such status as a starter in 2021-22? It seems as though that is what he is looking for.

The Nets likely had a starting role for him if he was able to stay on the floor this past season. At least before they landed James Harden in a blockbuster three-team deal. After the Beard arrived in Brooklyn, Dinwiddie was forever relegated to a backup role.

That could explain his opt-out of the final year of his deal. Free agency should see Dinwiddie receive plenty of attention despite coming off the injury, and the Los Angeles Lakers or Clippers may be the frontrunner for his services due to a potential yearning to return home.

But, fortunately, the Cs could offer the starting PG job he is likely looking for.

Boston Celtics MLE point guard target #3: Cameron Payne

We have a major bag alert here regarding Cameron Payne’s next contract. At least compared to the career earnings he has amassed so far in his five-year career.

Payne has long been a minimum contract player due to his shooting inefficiency. He seemingly found his footing early in Chicago after a rough start with OKC, but he regressed as his time with the Bulls went on and continued his descent with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Joining the Phoenix Suns for the team’s 8-0 bubble run reinvigorated the former lottery pick, and he maintained that level of play this past season. Now in the NBA postseason, Payne is taking his game to an even higher level.

And likely earning himself a major payday this summer.

The Boston Celtics are most certainly an option for Payne, who could right the wrongs of letting Terry Rozier go two summers ago to bring on the bloated deal of Kemba Walker. Payne won’t cost nearly that much, with the full MLE being a distinct possibility.

Payne would be worth it for the Cs, who are missing a sweet-shooting guard unafraid to take it to the rim. In an extended role, Payne even has several postseason games with nine assists this summer.

Brad Stevens should monitor the market of Cam Payne, a point guard likely to be sipping champagne at the conclusion of these playoffs.