Sharpshooter ‘looks like a clean fit’ for Boston Celtics in free agency
It’s clear what Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley believes the Boston Celtics need during the upcoming offseason following a potential title run — listing three wings for his early 2023 free agent targets list. One wing, in particular, was billed a clean fit for the Cs; that being Nets sharpshooter Yuta Watanabe.
“Beyond keeping Williams (at a reasonable price), the Shamrocks’ top offseason priority should be finding perimeter players with decent-or-better size,” Buckley prefaced before saying, “The 6’9″ Yuta Watanabe looks like a clean fit. He plays with force and boundless energy. He can switch on to three different positions on defense—or more in the right matchup. He has some off-the-dribble elements to his game and just shot 40-plus percent from three for the second time in three seasons.”
Buckley even believes Watanabe could carve out a “bigger role than expected” on the likely contending 2023-24 Celtics.
“His defensive activity and overall energy would endear him to this fanbase, and if he can add volume to his outside shot without sacrificing efficiency, (Watanabe) could carve out a bigger role than expected,” Buckley wrote.
Jalen McDaniels deemed a ‘sneaky-good steal’ for Boston Celtics
While Watanabe got a full-fledged endorsement from Buckley, 76ers forward Jalen McDaniels got a half endorsement due to his shooting woes. Buckley noted that McDaniels’ value would be higher with floor-spacing abilities, but did concede the San Diego State product could be a “sneaky-good steal” for the Boston Celtics.
“If McDaniels had a better three-ball (career 34.5 percent on low volume), he’d probably fall outside of Boston’s price range,” Buckley prefaced before saying, “Since he doesn’t, the Celtics might be able to afford him knowing he’s a versatile defender who has improved his decision-making and added some off-the-dribble options to his offensive menu. And if he finds his form from three—he shot 38 percent last season and 40 percent after this season’s deadline deal to Philly—he could be a sneaky-good steal.”
Terence Davis could be ‘worth a clearance contract’ for Boston Celtics
Terence Davis got even less of an endorsement from Buckley than McDaniels. According to the Bleacher Report writer, the Kings forward could be worth merely a “clearance contract” for the Celtics this upcoming offseason.
“(Inconsistency) should land him squarely in the bargain bin,” Buckley wrote of Davis. “If Boston thinks its system could coax more reliable production out of him—or pictured him filling a small enough role where his inconsistency wouldn’t hurt much—then he’d be worth a clearance contract.”