Boston Celtics: 3 free agents to sign if Cs let Jabari Parker walk

Boston Celtics free agent target No. 3) Lauri Markkanen

Earlier in the article, we discussed the fact that, due to their limited cap space, should they look to replace Jabari Parker via free agency the Boston Celtics will either have to pursue a past-peak veteran and/ or an unproven youngster or hope to get lucky with a highly-talented player that’s currently still available.

The first two options in Wilson and Valentine fall under the former category. A recently rumored target for the shamrocks in Lauri Markkanen would easily find its way falling under the latter.

According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Boston has “shown interest in signing Markkanen to deals worth around $15 million in average annual value.”

Now, obviously the Cs don’t have any more cap space after signing Schroder, so a sign-and-trade would likely be the only option for them to land the Finnish-born big should they really want him and, frankly, they should strongly consider such a pursuit.

Finishing off his fourth season in the league, the consensus opinion was that Markkanen put forth the least impressive campaign of his career, yet he still managed to post per-game averages of 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds on 48 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent shooting from deep which would have been a blessing to have at the four for the Cs this past season.

A legitimate 7-footer with a 6-11 wingspan, the 24-year-old has proven to be a high potential big in the NBA and is just two years removed from averaging an impressive 18.7 points and nine rebounds per game.

A fantastic floor-spacing power forward who still has plenty of room to grow, should Jabari Parker not return for 2021-22, Lauri Markkanen would unequivocally be a tremendous replacement option for the Boston Celtics to strongly consider targeting, both for the immediate future as well as in the long-term.