Boston Celtics: 3 former first-round picks Cs should target with TPE

For the second time in as many years, the Boston Celtics come into their season in possession of a large sum of riches, as they hold the rights to several Traded Player Exceptions, ranging from rather lofty price ranges like $17 million to lower ones that are worth less than $7 million.

With these luxuries, they can now go about and look to bring on players whose contracts fall into one of these specific exceptions, and, naturally, fans and media alike have been having a field day this whole summer trying to figure out who they should pursue.

While there are many different avenues in which Brad Stevens and co. can embark on when trying to nab a specific talent, should they opt to go for the buy-low approach on young players who perhaps have yet to live up to expectations, we at the Houdini believe there are 3 recent first-round selections they should strongly consider pursuing:

Boston Celtics TPE target No. 1) Cole Anthony

A player we at HH were rather high on coming into last year’s NBA Draft, Cole Anthony has recently found his name intertwined with the Boston Celtics as a potential option for them should they opt to use one of their lower-value TPEs.

Still just 21-years-old, Anthony was taken 15th overall by the Orlando Magic — one pick after the Cs opted to take Aaron Nesmith — and went on to have himself a solid rookie campaign as he averaged 12.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists a night.

That said, despite his production, this still didn’t stop the team’s front office from making the mid-season move to acquire fellow rookie point guard, RJ Hampton, via trade with the Denver Nuggets and snag top-flight prospect, Jalen Suggs, in this year’s draft to only add to a backcourt already consisting of Anthony and former No. 1 overall pick, Markelle Fultz.

Overcrowded, the Magic could theoretically look to offload some of these aforementioned players in an effort to either acquire draft capital or other young pieces that could potentially help better fill out the roster moving forward.

Because of this, the Cs should absolutely keep close tabs on the situation in the Sunshine State and, should it look like they’d be will to part with someone like Cole Anthony, Stevens should strongly consider dialing the phone to kick off trade talks.