Boston Celtics: 4 shot creators Cs should pursue this offseason
By Chris Conte
Even with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kemba Walker, the Boston Celtics were a very dull team to watch.
They didn’t excite outside of their core trio, and they couldn’t score without them. Although the Cs must stock up on shooting, passing, and defense, it is equally essential that they bring in someone that can break down a defense without the help of Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown.
With Kemba gone, the Celtics have a creation hole in their backcourt.
Marcus Smart provides excellent defense and passing, but his handles and boom scoring potential on the ball are not there. As for Payton Pritchard, he’s not ready to take up the mantle that Kemba Walker left. Instead, he’ll continue working as a spot-up threat and someone who will drive close-outs.
Boston’s lack of shot creation and danger on the ball is a problem and will cost them playoff wins if they don’t fix it.
As lovely as Demar DeRozan or Tim Hardaway Jr. may be, the Boston Celtics must remain financially aware and keep their eyes on the cheaper end of the free agency market.
The Celtics can’t afford any high-caliber shot creators on the market, with Bradley Beal, Stephen Curry, and Zach LaVine looming over the following offseason.
However, they may not be out of luck, as there are plenty of players hitting free agency who could provide some scoring off the bench for the Boston Celtics.
Here are 4 names and what they would cost:
Shot creator target for Boston Celtics No.1) Reggie Jackson
After years under the NBA’s radar, Reggie Jackson has finally broken out on the biggest stage next to Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.
The Clippers acquired the 6-2 guard out of Boston College after the Detroit Pistons waived him in the early part of 2020.
He then signed two contracts, which kept him on the team through the rest of the 2019-20 season and extending his tenure with LA for another.
Jackson’s first half of a season and first postseason with the Clippers was not particularly impressive, and those numbers drag down his averages.
Reggie Jackson averaged 11.1 points and 3.4 assists per game on 56 TS% in 23.3 minutes per game with the Clippers during the regular season and averaged 12.8 points and 2.5 assists per game on 62.4 TS% in 25.5 minutes per game in the playoffs.
In the 2021 playoffs, Reggie Jackson averaged nearly 18 points and 3.4 assists per game on 62.6 TS% and shot 40% from deep on 7.5 attempts per game.
Those are insane numbers, especially while playing next to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who also put up excellent playoff scoring stats.
Jackson proved he was not an empty stats merchant and could function next to Leonard and George on the biggest stage.
See, as Brown and Tatum function much like the Clippers All-Star forward duo, Brad Stevens’ ears should have perked up hearing what Jackson had accomplished.
Kemba Walker struggled to play next to the Jays because he was a poor off-ball player. He was not a good 3-point shooter, and at 6-feet, he did not have the physical tools to be a good cutter either.
Jackson, however, is an elite catch-and-shoot player and has the size and wingspan to offer good cutting next to the Jays. But that’s not what this article is about; this is about what Jackson alone can deliver the Celtics on the ball.
Reggie Jackson averaged nearly 20 points per game in the playoffs on a team with two elite creators, creating 75% of his 2-point shots inside the arc.
Jackson showcased his ability to get his own in the playoffs, and he did so very efficiently.
In the 2021 playoffs, Jackson shot 69.4% from 0-3 feet, 48.7% from 3-10 feet, 62.5% from 10-16 feet, 52.6% from 16-3P, and 40.8% from deep. Those are superstar-level efficiency numbers against premier defenses.
Jackson is coming off an elite playoff run and only made $2.3 million with the Clippers in 2020-21 — it is safe to say he and his agent will be looking to secure a payday.
So long as Jackson and his camp don’t get offered anything more than the MLE, Boston can take on Jackson as a backup point guard.
He’s cheap enough not to pose a threat to their 2022 offseason plans and sufficient enough to provide Boston with a scoring punch off the bench.
Signing the man should be a no-brainer.