Boston Celtics: 3 free agents to sign if Cs let Jabari Parker walk
By Mark Nilon
Boston Celtics free agent target No. 2) Denzel Valentine
Denzel Valentine is a player we at HH have often discussed as being a solid target for the Boston Celtics to consider this offseason.
Aside from power forward, perhaps the most important area within the rotation that still needs to be filled is the team’s talent pool at the wing position.
Yes, this may sound a bit odd considering that the Cs currently have two of the best players in the game at this position in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, but behind them is a unit consisting of unproven and underperforming ballers which, frankly, is not a recipe for success, especially on a team looking to play for legitimate postseason contention.
Because of this, they should look to bring on some veteran presences in an attempt to help stabilize this slot within the rotation, and Valentine should be viewed as a realistic option for Stevens to consider.
A former lottery selection by the Chicago Bulls back in 2016, the fifth-year baller finds himself on the open market still waiting to be scooped up.
The 27-year-old has shown glimpses of being a complete player throughout his tenure in the league and, during the last three years he’s actually managed to play — missed the entirety of the 2018-19 season due to injury — he posted averages of 8.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists on nearly 36 percent shooting from deep.
Prior to his lost junior year, we saw the wing finally showing flashes of being a solid player in this league as he posted 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists a night whilst shooting 38.6 percent from deep on 4.8 attempts per game during his sophomore season.
Though he doesn’t have the upside that other players we may have wished to have seen the Boston Celtics pursue this summer — Otto Porter Jr. Victor Oladipo, etc. –, Valentine is a low-cost versatile playmaker that could serve as a sound backup option behind the likes of the Jays.