Boston Celtics: 3 RFAs Cs should avoid this offseason
By Chris Conte
The Boston Celtics have some decisions to make as the summer carries on and more and more rumors surface. After trading Kemba Walker for Al Horford, Boston has created a couple more inches of cap space to extend some of their current players and sign some more guys on the market to help them contend for Banner 18.
That said, Brad Stevens has emphasized he will not break the bank this summer, clearly hinting at wanting to have flexibility when Jayson Tatum’s best friend, Bradley Beal, potentially becomes a free agent next summer.
That means Boston will forfeit its chances at chasing the more prominent names this summer. Players like Chris Paul or Kawhi Leonard will not receive a call from the Celtics this summer, seeing as they will be looking to secure max contracts.
Damian Lillard, who is under contract but possibly looking to request a trade, is unlikely to receive a call from the Celtics due to the financial implications that come with taking on his contract, which extends another four years.
With that said, should the Celtics stand pat, or should they go after lower mid-tier players? Brad Stevens should try to improve the Cs roster, but he must stay under the NBA’s cap apron in doing so.
Here are a few restricted free agents who Brad Stevens should avoid acquiring this summer.
RFA #1 the Boston Celtics should look to avoid this offseason: Lonzo Ball
As lovely as Lonzo Ball may be to take up the mantle Kemba Walker left vacant, there are some misunderstood implications to acquiring the young point guard.
The Boston Celtics must remain financially aware, and they cannot take on untradeable contracts with max stars looming in the distance. Trading for Ball or even outbidding NOLA for him would be a costly shortsighted move for the Boston Celtics.
Ball would fit very nicely with the Celtics, in theory. His shooting, passing, and defense would fit nicely next to the Jays, and the Celtics development staff could help him take the next step as a scorer. His jump shot improvement tells of his attitude, and his willingness to play alongside stars has already been seen.
However, the NBA does not just function on the court. Ball is expected to pursue a deal worth $20 million a season. For one, he is not nearly worth that price tag as it stands. If the Celtics were to shell out that kind of cash, they would be taking a risky bet on Ball becoming a $25 million player so they could flip him when they try to create space for Beal. That is extremely unlikely and too big of a risk for the Boston Celtics to take.
Secondly, Boston does not even have that kind of money to spend as it stands. They would have to move off of Marcus Smart and Tristan Thompson to free up space. However, Smart is a more moveable asset than Ball, given his age, talent, and projected extension.
More contenders would be willing to take Smart off the C’s hands next summer than they would take on Zo’s $60 million contracts. The Celtics must prioritize this flexibility which means they must let Lonzo Ball walk to another team.