In a not-so-strange turn of events, the Boston Celtics have a new TPE to use. Just when people began to get excited that Brad Stevens used all of Boston’s TPEs, he created a new one.
When Evan Fournier signed with the Knicks, it seemed as though the Celtics would lose him for nothing. Instead, Stevens turned the loss into a potential gain.
Boston actually has three usable TPEs (Fournier, Kemba Walker, and Tristan Thompson), but the Fournier one is the most recent and the largest. It’s worth a tiny bit over $17 million.
Since it expires on July 17, 2022, there’s a decent chance Stevens uses it before the trade deadline this year. Who are some of the most realistic trade candidates using the Fournier TPE?
Realistic Boston Celtics trade targets with the Evan Fournier TPE: Robert Covington
Trading for Robert Covington only becomes a realistic possibility if Damian Lillard decides he wants out of Portland. At that point, the Trailblazers would likely look to sell most of their veteran assets.
Covington falls under that category and would be a great fit with the Boston Celtics. He’s a 3-and-D wing that can guard positions 3-5 well.
He’s also a solid 3-point shooter who would certainly be an upgrade over some of Boston’s three-point snipers from last season. Covington would also be a great veteran presence on a fairly young bench.
Despite only being realistic under a certain set of circumstances, the idea of Covington is very enticing. Seeing as his contract is up at the end of the season, this is a great idea both on the court and financially.