Boston Celtics rumors: Cs could use TPEs during draft week

The Boston Celtics do not have an infinite amount of time to use the traded player exceptions created in the Evan Fournier sign-and-trade to the New York Knicks, the Juan Hernangomez trade to the San Antonio Spurs, and the Dennis Schroder trade to the Houston Rockets.

The Fournier TPE is both the largest (at $17.1 million) and the soonest to expire (on July 18th) with the $5.9 million Schroder TPE and $6.9 million Hernangomez TPE good until next February. All three could be used very soon, though.

According to MassLive’s Brian Robb, the Cs could be looking to use their TPEs during draft week, aka the very week of the calendar we are currently in. The 2022 NBA Draft takes place this Thursday.

Per Robb, it could be time for the Cs to enter the trade sweepstakes with their three non-player/draft pick trade assets:

"“The bottom line? The Celtics can create with these team-building tools this offseason but time is of the essence for their most impactful weapon. Draft week is one of the NBA’s biggest trade windows of the year so don’t be surprised if Boston gets into the action sooner rather than later.”"

Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens has the green light to be aggressive this offseason

When you come within two games of the NBA Finals, it’s fair to categorize your roster as ‘one piece away’. That’s the position Celtics PBO Brad Stevens currently finds his roster less than a week removed from a series-ending NBA Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors in Game 6.

With the Cs not being subjected to the luxury tax following the 2021-22 season–the bonuses for Boston’s roster ended up falling below the $136.6. million threshold–the Cs have avoided the repeat offender tax.

Thus, Stevens has the green light to be aggressive this offseason in getting the Celtics over the hump without worrying about paying an excessive tax bill. Trading the Fournier/Schroder/Hernangomez TPEs for extra salary, and extra luxury taxes, is the best way to make good on that freedom.