Boston Celtics: 2 trade packages for players still on rookie contracts
By Mark Nilon
Boston Celtics use one of their TPEs on Mo Bamba
This past offseason, the Boston Celtics took part in plenty of moves, many of which saw individual players being shipped off via some sort of trade. Through these transactions, the front office managed to bring back several Traded Player Exceptions, all varying in value of worth ranging from a lowly $6.9 million to a luctrative $17 million.
Right in the middle, however, is a TPE worth up to $9.7 million that was acquired in the trade that sent Tristan Thompson to the Sacramento Kings.
With this, the Celtics can pursue any player in the association that has a salary falling within this price range, and fourth-year big man, Mo Bamba, is someone who finds himself fitting the bill as his 2021-22 pay-day is just $7.6 million.
Because of this, should Brad Stevens and co. fail to utilize the exception on players that could potentially better their odds of contending in the now such as JaMychal Green and Maxi Kleber, perhaps they should consider targeting those who could help them more at some point down the road, and the 23-year-old big man could prove to be an ideal option as we’ve already discussed in our previous piece:
"At 7-0 with a 7-10 wingspan, the former sixth overall pick has the build that would allow him to dominate down low during virtually any period in the league while boasting a skill set that could allow him to dominate during today’s floor-spacing era. The only problem that the big man has faced thus far into his career has been finding himself amongst other young and talented bigs looking to prove themselves within the Orlando Magic frontcourt however, when he has received more playing time on the hardwood, he has only managed to excel. Just last season, for example, when receiving 20-29 minutes, Bamba found himself posting 13.3 points, eight rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game on 49 percent shooting from the floor and 38 percent shooting from deep."
In exchange, we see the Boston Celtics trading Grant Williams, a floor-spacing forward who could prove to be a much better fit on this rebuilding Orlando Magic team alongside presumed starting center Wendell Carter Jr., and two future second-round picks.