Boston Celtics: Price set for 2021 lottery pick and potential TPE trade target

The Boston Celtics are eyeing a 2021 lottery pick who is on a team President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens has already established a trade rapport with — that being Indiana Pacers guard Chris Duarte.

Duarte was the driving force behind Oregon’s 2021 March Madness run to the Sweet 16, but he has yet to catch on at the professional level. Coincidentally enough, former Celtic Aaron Nesmith’s rise in 2022-23 is a big reason why.

CelticsBlog and Spotrac’s Keith Smith reported the potential price it would take for Boston to acquire Duarte on his Twitter account:

The Boston Celtics could use everything Chris Duarte provides

Chris Duarte would provide a lot of what the Boston Celtics could use at this moment: great team defense and knock-down 3-point ability, though that hasn’t been shining through in 2022-23 as it did during his college career and his NBA rookie season.

With Aaron Nesmith taking off in Indiana this season, the Pacers could throw Brad Stevens and the Celtics front office a bone in the form of Duarte — who may be worth a heavily protected first-round pick that could later turn into second-rounders.

Of course, a Duarte pursuit would depend on who else is available on the market. A hybrid forward with more size than the six-foot-five Duarte would be more worth the pursuit, and a big man who can maintain some semblance of at-the-rim dominance Robert Williams does would similarly be a wise investment.

Still, Duarte is a sensible shooter to pursue with Sam Hauser struggling and the Cs in need of giving Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown more rest. Duarte could provide his own shot and knock down catch-and-shoot opportunities with ease.