Celtics: 2 Free agent targets that got away, 3 to still pursue for 2024
By Tyler Watts
1. Josh Richardson
It was shocking to hear the Celtics being linked to Richardson after the 6’5 wing played 44 games in Boston during the 2021-22 season. He averaged just 9.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 24.7 minutes per game. It was not his best stint, and it ended quickly.
Boston acquired him for reserve center Moses Brown in July of 2021 as the Mavericks looked to dump him off their books. The Celtics extended his contract just one month later, but it never worked out on the court. They traded him to San Antonio in February 2022, and the Spurs dealt him to New Orleans 364 days later. J-Rich has bounced around in recent years, but he can still be an effective role player.
The Boston Celtics were looking to upgrade on the wing after acquiring Kristaps Porzingis. The new option can pair with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and must give the team more flexibility. KP struggles to defend on the perimeter, so the front office was likely searching for versatile options that could complement their two stars.
Josh Richardson returns to Miami where his NBA career started, and he had arguably his best seasons. The Boston Celtics missed out, but they still are eager to add pieces. The front office just has to figure out who to target.