Boston Celtics: 4 shot creators Cs should pursue this offseason
By Chris Conte
Shot creator target for Boston Celtics No. 2) Ish Smith
If the Boston Celtics are strictly looking to add cheap and expiring veterans to help contend this season and go for it all next summer, Ish Smith is their man.
He’s 33 years old, has been to the playoffs five times, and has made a name for himself creating his shot. He has great handles and is capable of sustaining a bench unit’s scoring.
The journeyman is coming off his 10th season in the NBA and will enter free agency once more as his career continues to wind down.
He came off the bench for Scott Brooks and the Wizards in 2020-21, averaging 6.7 points and 3.9 assists per game on 47 TS%.
He shot 37% from deep on meager volume and shot 55.4% from 0-3 feet. Not great numbers, but given his age and what the Celtics need him for, they are passable.
The Celtics will throw Ish Smith a bone because he created 74% of his 2-pointers last season.
Although he is no longer athletic enough to live amongst the trees in the paint, Smith has a very reliable floater (45% from 3-10 feet) to finish plays. He has a nice crossover and still has the burst to blow by his man and get to the hoop.
Outside of that, he’s an okay passer, but that’s all.
Given how little Smith can offer and his age, the Boston Celtics can swoop him up for an insanely low price.
Stevens offers Smith and his camp $2 million for one season, and they would likely take it.
This deal gives the Celtics financial flexibility and a veteran point guard to play behind Marcus Smart and Payton Pritchard while both grow into their more prominent roles.
Smith should be the Celtics plan E if they miss on all their other point guard targets.