The NBA offseason has begun to wind down as teams are starting to finalize their roster and fill out any remaining spots with veteran minimums or two-way contracts. The Boston Celtics are no different, wrapping up their offseason with the signing of Dennis Schroder and going into training camp with multiple potential prospects for their last two-way contract spot.
However, some teams are filling out their rosters for different reasons than others. Some are looking to contend, some are looking to make the playoffs, and a certain few are looking to stack assets for a deadline firesale.
The Boston Celtics need to keep an eye on teams trying to capitalize on some of their roster’s value. Clubs like the Indiana Pacers, Portland Trailblazers, and Cleveland Cavaliers will all be on seller watch this deadline, and each of them has something the Cs might like.
The rhyme or reason as to why they are selling their assets may differ. The reason for the Blazers and Pacers will likely be because they aren’t good enough to contend or make the playoffs, so it’s better to get some value back for their expiring assets. The Cavs will be sellers because they are tanking, and the veteran investments on their team are no longer needed.
This article will take a closer look at what each of those teams has to offer and why the Boston Celtics should take an interest in their wholesale.
Potential seller Boston Celtics should monitor #1: Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers have been nothing short of underwhelming this offseason after losing in the play-in and missing the playoffs. Many thought they would call it quits, sell on their stars for picks, and draft a foundational piece with the 13th pick in the draft.
However, the Pacers abandoned a rebuild and drafted Chris Duarte over two foundational elements in Moses Moody and Sharife Cooper. Don’t get me wrong, Duarte is an excellent player, but he’s 24 years old and far from a foundational talent. It was clear that the Pacers selected Duarte to be an immediate contributor, which means the franchise is headed for another year of mediocrity.
The Pacers don’t have the talent or continuity to compete at a high level in the East, especially after losing Nate McMillian, who kept them afloat during the regular season. With Rick Carlise, the Pacers will improve slightly, but their lackluster talent and poor roster construction remain in the way of actual contention. Sooner or later, Indiana’s management will realize this, and there’s a chance they do so at the deadline.
The Indiana Pacers have five expiring contracts on their roster this season, and that alone should cause the Boston Celtics’ ears to perk up. The Celts have many options between TJ Warren, Jeremy Lamb, Goga Bitazde, Edmond Sumner, Oshae Brisset, and Kelan Martin.
TJ Warren is the guy the Boston Celtics should try to pry from the Pacers’ roster. He’s coming off a season where he played four games, but the season before that, he averaged 20 points per game on 61 TS% and 40% shooting from three. He’s making $12.6 million next season, an easy mark to match using either Richardson’s contract or Dunn, some minor pieces, and the Tristan Thompson TPE.
If the Pacers begin to fall, expect the Boston Celtics to be active at the trade deadline.
Potential seller Boston Celtics should monitor #2: Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers may have outlasted one of the most anxiety-filled summers in recent memory. Their superstar, Damian Lillard, was involved in multiple reports saying he was unhappy with the franchise and was inches away from requesting a trade, therefore burying the Blazers in a lengthy rebuild.
Luckily, the rumors were either gas or Lillard changed his mind because as of this moment, Lillard is planning to suit up in red and black. However, just because Lillard has decided to stay doesn’t mean Portland is in the clear.
The Trail Blazer’s front office has failed to surround their offensive superstar with quality offensive talent and has miserably failed to support him on the defensive end. Between Lillard, McCollum, Powell, Covington, and Nurkic, the Blazers have one and a half positive defenders, depending on how Nurkic is feeling.
In a Western Conference loaded with perimeter talent, not having any good perimeter defenders in your starting lineup is a shot in the foot and a bullet the Blazers have been biting for years now.
With the West stacking up, it’s likely the Blazers are fighting for a play-in spot. Their front office can do one of two things: sell Portland’s offensive weapons for defensive support or sell on any pieces that have value before Lillard inevitably requests a trade next summer.
Either way, the Boston Celtics win.
Suppose Portland decides to sell on some of their offensive talents like Anfernee Simons or Ben McLemore for nothing more than Dunn or Richardson. If the Blazers decide to embrace their incoming rebuild, the Celts could be in line for Robert Covington or Derrick Jones Jr, who wouldn’t cost them more than one of Boston’s budding young players due to their expiring states.
The Blazers should be on the Boston Celtics radar around the deadline, especially if they are struggling in the standings.
Potential seller Boston Celtics should monitor #3: Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers have struck gold this offseason, getting a top-two prospect in the draft with the number three overall pick and netting Ricky Rubio for essentially nothing. On top of their established young core, they have multiple veterans that contenders will be monitoring as the season progresses, praying they can pry them from Cleveland’s grasp for cheap.
The Boston Celtics will be one of those teams looking to strike a deal with the Cavs at the deadline.
Cleveland will spend another year in the lottery, hoping to steal another foundational piece in the draft to put beside Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and possibly Colin Sexton. As their roster stands, guys like Larry Nance and Ricky Rubio will serve as veteran backups to their younger peers but ultimately contradict the direction of the team. That’s why the Cavs will look to part with them at the deadline despite both being highly productive and impactful role players.
The Boston Celtics could use both Rubio and Nance, as they lack high-level passing and quality power forward depth. Rubio is on an expiring $17.8 million deal, a strict number to match but one the Cs will be interested in since it doesn’t impact their free agency plans.
They could pair Josh Richardson with one of their younger pieces to secure the veteran point guard, but it may be unlikely that the Cavs budge since it doesn’t make much sense to bring another veteran guard back when they are trading one away.
On the other hand, Nance will be more accessible to the net since his contract nearly fits in the Thompson TPE. The Boston Celtics wouldn’t have to send salary back, and they might not even have to send any players back if the Cavs want an open roster spot and draft capital.
Many teams will be after Nance if he makes it to the deadline, so if the Celts need to pony up a first or one of their young players, it would be in their best interest to do so if their rivals are in the bidding war with them.