Boston Celtics: Former lottery pick, 10-year vet floated for TPEs

The Boston Celtics are heading into the preseason with a boatload of questions that are almost too overwhelming to think about as the opening days of training camp and media day pass into the rearview mirror.

Of course, the most obvious question has to do with how Joe Mazzulla will do in a role he was shockingly thrust into in the lead-up to training camp. Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens believes in Mazzulla despite his past, but he’s still in the process of building a coaching staff — proving how difficult a challenge this will be.

Undoubtedly, it’s on the players — specifically the likes of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, and Al Horford — to lead by example and bring the roster together on the court. Malcolm Brogdon seems to be saying the right things and fitting in well with Smart in the backcourt, so he’s another veteran hand that could help ease the transition from Ime Udoka to Mazzulla.

Still, there could be a lack of talent on the roster keeping the Cs from competing with a full-strength Milwaukee Bucks or a possibly resurgent Cleveland Cavaliers now starring Donovan Mitchell. To combat that, the Boston Celtics could use their two TPEs from the Dennis Schroder and Juan Hernangomez trades. According to Heavy’s Sean Deveney, a league executive believes former lottery selection and a 10-year veteran could be on Boston’s radar:

"“I think two guys they looked at and could look at with their TPEs are Justise Winslow and Mo Harkless. I think both of those guys make sense if they’re not getting what they want off the bench for backup wings.”"

The Boston Celtics could pursue Justise Winslow if the Trail Blazers falter early

Moe Harkless is someone the Boston Celtics front office should wait to simply be bought out by an OKC Thunder team that likely won’t have a role for him, but Justise Winslow is someone that could have value as a depth piece in the frontcourt.

Winslow is a bit undersized at 6-foot-6 for the power forward, but he makes up for it with athleticism. He distributes well from any position when given minutes and while he isn’t a great shooter, the Cs could mask that by playing him alongside Al Horford and Luke Kornet in the frontcourt.

If the Portland Trail Blazers falter early in 2022-23, Winslow would be a preferable TPE target.