Key for Boston Celtics to dethrone Bucks No. 4) Re-sign Evan Fournier
We all know that the Boston Celtics are a top-heavy team, one that will go as far as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will allow them, but outside of these two stars the stark drop-off in talent is a bit steep, especially for a team looking to vie for championship contention.
Bringing on as much talent to surround the Jays with will be vital for the team’s success moving forward but, unfortunately due to their salary restraints, pickings will undoubtably be slim this summer.
Unless they make a blockbuster deal or a sign-and-trade for a restricted free-agent, perhaps the best player they’ll be able to bring on this offseason will be veteran sharpshooter Evan Fournier which, by all means, is not such a bad scenario.
In possession of his Bird rights thanks to the mid-season acquisition that landed him, despite Boston’s lacking salary space they’ll be able to re-up with the wing without having it impact the luxury tax.
Prior to coming to Beantown in mid-March, Fournier was posting 19.7 points per game on an efficient 46 percent shooting from the floor and 39 percent shooting from deep.
Though his scoring numbers may have dipped a bit once taking to the court in green and white — 13 points per game –, this was to be expected as he was now finding himself sharing the offensive load with three other dominant scorers rather than just one while in Orlando.
What should be more notable about his production with the Cs is his efficiency as a shooter, where he converted on 43 percent of his twos, 46 percent of his threes, and boasted a whopping 75 percent efficient field goal percentage on catch-and-shoot attempts.
Add on the fact that he averaged 15.4 points during the postseason on 43 percent shooting from deep whilst predominantly serving as the third option alongside Tatum and Walker (who’s obviously no longer on the team), and the thought of bringing him back for next season to serve as a tertiary scorer alongside Tatum and Brown doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.
Bringing on a near 20 point per game scorer to serve as option number three in the pecking order is a sound concept to consider and, unless the Boston Celtics can get their hands on someone like a Lonzo Ball, John Collins, or simply someone better in free agency, re-signing Evan Fournier should be viewed as an absolute must.