Boston Celtics: A perfect MLE candidate just revealed himself

The Boston Celtics added a hyper-athletic, rim-wrecking point guard in the second round of the NBA Draft in Alabama’s JD Davison at pick No. 53, but they could add another one in free agency if everything breaks right.

That’d be 31-year-old floor general John Wall, who is angling for a buyout with the Houston Rockets if/when they can’t find him a trade partner:

John Wall is the perfect mid-level exception candidate for the Boston Celtics

Assuming Wall hits the market on June 30th, Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens could make a serious splash without moving any of the core pieces that helped make up the 2021-22 Cs roster. That’d appease a fanbase that wants to see improvement in the offseason but doesn’t want to see any key rotational players moved in a deal.

Given the unpopular Kevin Durant conversations going on right now–which would almost certainly have to include Jaylen Brown in any trade arrangement–the most crowd-pleasing move the Cs can make would be adding a former All-Star like Wall that is just two seasons removed from averaging 20.6 points, seven assists, and three rebounds per game without tinkering with Boston’s top producers from the Eastern Conference champions.

Wall would be an ideal second unit leader, forming an offensively overwhelming backcourt duo with Derrick White. He could slide right into the first five on nights Al Horford or Robert Williams sits for big man maintenance, generating open looks for the ‘Jays’ and Marcus Smart along the perimeter.

Of course, Wall will be a coveted asset for other contenders as well. With the Los Angeles Lakers’ noted interest in fellow veteran PG Kyrie Irving with their taxpayer’s MLE, and the likely interest Wall would get from the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, and Dallas Mavericks, Boston is no guarantee to land him.

That said, the perfect MLE candidate just revealed himself to the Boston Celtics front office, and anything short of a full-fledged pursuit once free agency opens would be a shortcoming on Brad Stevens’ part and the part of all of his front office cohorts.