2 most valuable TPEs the Boston Celtics still have and who they can target

Boston Celtics target with $6.9M Juancho Hernangomez TPE: Khem Birch

Even though Dennis Schroder was undoubtedly the player that had the most noteworthy and impressive stint with the Boston Celtics of all the players who were traded away last season, Juancho Hernangomez was the one who managed to net the team the more valuable Traded Player Exception when he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs this past January.

At an overall worth of $6.9 million, it now finds itself ranked as Boston’s biggest TPE.

That said, even with this standing, a value of under $7 million likely won’t bring the franchise any stars/ stars in the making, while their lacking first-round picks make it hard to believe that they could coerce a team into parting with one of their young and promising talents still on a rookie-scale contract (someone like Rui Hachimura, for example).

With this, Brad Stevens is once again going to have to get creative with how he opts to attack the trade market if he were to use the Hernangomez TPE, and someone who we believe could be a highly intriguing option for him to consider would be Khem Birch of the Toronto Raptors.

Ever since the Celtics shipped out Daniel Theis to the Indiana Pacers in the Malcolm Brogdon blockbuster earlier this summer, all eyes have been on the backup big man position and how the front office will look to fill in the depth behind Al Horford and Robert Williams III.

Though he may not be the sexiest of names, Birch is someone who could absolutely fit the bill as an intersted addition to their frontcourt.

A defensive-minded tweener big who has a knack for out-hustling the competition when on the floor, the fifth-year NBA veteran could be a nice reserve option upfront to have come in and log somewhere around 18 minutes, allowing for both the team’s primary bigs with ample baggage attached to their names (Horford is 36 and Williams is incredibly injury prone) to receive much-needed rest on the pine.

Birch is not someone who will blow spectators away with flashy plays and thunderous dunks, but he is a quality role player who can defend, set screens, pull down boards, and even hit the occasional mid-to-long-range jumper from time to time.

If the Boston Celtics don’t end up bringing on a trusty big from the free agency market this offseason, by all means, they should consider shelling out a future second to bring on the under-the-radar Khem Birch and his $6.6 million salary.