The Boston Celtics haven’t been quiet this offseason. They have been at the center of plenty of rumors, from trading Jaylen Brown to moving up, down, in and out of the NBA Draft. Then the real deals started happening, with the Celtics sending out Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porzingis and draft picks, then trading back roughly a million times during the 2023 draft to acquire extra draft capital.
With NBA free agency looming at the end of the week, they certainly aren’t done either. From signings on the minimum to more drastic moves, there are plenty of paths available to Boston. One such path to trade would be to consider old friends on the free agent market. Bringing back former Celtics has worked out in the past, most notably and recently with Al Horford.
Are there free-agent reunions the Celtics should make this summer?
Let’s play “Pass or Play” with six former Celtics to determine if Boston should add them in free agency
Free Agent No. 6: Dwight Powell, Center
Dwight Powell has played for the Dallas Mavericks for the last 8.5 seasons, appearing in 582 games and starting 243 of those. For most fans that’s the only jersey they can remember him wearing, but Powell actually first wore Celtics green when starting his NBA career. Boston traded for him prior to the start of his rookie season, then traded him with Rajon Rondo a few months later to the Mavericks.
Powell is going to do very little with the ball in his hands, but he excels as a roll man who can finish at an elite level. He also has some ability to space out to the corners for 3-pointers, which could help the Celtics maintain some level of their 5-out system. He isn’t much of a rim protector, which makes him an unlikely starter around the league. He may sign for more than the minimum somewhere as the true backup five, but if the Celtics can add him for the minimum he’s excellent insurance for injuries or a Robert Williams III trade.
Pass or Play: Play