Boston Celtics: 3 targets for the Cs to use the Fournier TPE on

This summer, the Boston Celtics are running it back with the traded player exceptions, acquiring a $17.1 million one from the New York Knicks after completing a sign and trade with the shamrocks to obtain Evan Fournier.

As painful as it was to watch the C’s marquee deadline acquisition walk to a division rival, getting a TPE is a massive win for a team looking to make significant moves next offseason.

But should the Boston Celtics wait until then, or should they attempt to exercise their newly acquired TPE at this year’s deadline to make a run at the title?

Ultimately, the decision will be up to Brad Stevens. The state of the current roster will be a significant determining factor in whether or not Boston decides to bring in a contributor at the deadline.

This article will look at what players the Boston Celtics should target with their newly acquired traded player exception and what those players will provide for the Cs.

Ideally, the Celts should be looking to bring in players that can shoot, defend their position, and move the ball. It doesn’t matter whether they are 40 percent 3-point shooters or 35 percent 3-point shooters, All-defensive caliber defenders, slight positive defenders, high-level passers, or connective passers.

So long as they can exercise three of those skill sets, they can play for Ime Udoka.

Thaddeus Young, Joe Ingles, and Kyle Anderson should remain at the top of Boston’s board if they remain on their current teams.

All three have been rumored to be on the trading block by their respective teams, but if no one is willing to pay assets for them now, there’s a chance the Cs will have a good shot at them at the deadline.

Beginning with Young who, in my humble opinion, is the best use of the Celts’ $17.1 million TPE.

Young is a 33-year-old seasoned NBA veteran with unique passing skills at his size and a high-level defender. The 14-year power forward was recently traded to the rebuilding San Antonio Spurs in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, meaning his status is likely to change before the trade deadline passes.

The Boston Celtics could offer San Antonio solid draft capital and financial relief, easily fitting Young’s $14.1 million deal inside their $17.1 million traded player exception.

Young gives Boston some much-needed power forward depth, passing, and help-side rim protection, and the Spurs get financial relief and assets to help their rebuild.

Next up is Ingles, who is the best player the Boston Celtics could get with their Fournier TPE but, at the same time, will be the hardest to obtain.

The wing is coming off a career year, achieving the highest TS% in league history while placing in the top-3 for Sixth Man of the Year and playing a pivotal role in Utah’s high-level ball movement-oriented offense.

Ingles is an exceptional shooter, but his most valuable attribute is his ability to put the ball on the floor and make decisions, something the Celts could use.

Trading for Ingles is a no-brainer for the Boston Celtics, but trading away Ingles might be the wrong move for the Utah Jazz if they don’t get anything back in return.

The Jazz need the point-of-attack defense to help Rudy Gobert extend his defensive prowess into the postseason and, ideally, Ingles would be the piece to get that point-of-attack defense. The problem is the Jazz can’t have Marcus Smart, and the availability of Schroder is unknown, leaving Kris Dunn as their only viable option, who has dealt with injuries in the past.

Essentially, the Boston Celtics need to hope Dunn reverts to his 2018-29 form or the Jazz decide to sell low on Ingles out of desperation. It’s a long shot, but Ingles’ $14 million salary fits inside the TPE and the Cs would-be contenders with all that he brings to the table.

Lastly is Kyle Anderson, one of the most likely TPE candidates after the Grizzlies’ recent moves.

The 27-year-old is out of place on a rebuilding Memphis roster and is unlikely to stay with the club when he hits free agency next summer.

The Memphis Grizzlies have already shown they are willing to sacrifice short-term success to capitalize on expiring deals as they did with Jonas Valanciunas, so they’ll likely do the same with Kyle Anderson.

The Boston Celtics need power-forward depth, specifically a power forward that can play defense, shoot, and pass the ball. Anderson provides all that and more on a $9.9 million contract, and he’s a former Spur who was coached under Ime Udoka.

Since he’s an expiring contract and the Grizzlies have formed a log-jam at power forward, it’s unlikely it takes any more than minimal draft capital to pry him from Memphis, making the deal more than worth it.

If Brad Stevens decides he wants to exercise the TPE now and frees up a roster spot, expect Anderson to be at the top of the Boston Celtics’ rumors.