Ability to sign undervalued big for more than minimum can ‘tip scales’ for Boston Celtics

The ability for the Boston Celtics to offer Christian Wood more than just the veteran’s minimum salary for the 2023-24 season can “tip the scales” in the C’s favor in free agency according to Inside The Celtics’ Bobby Krivitsky.

“(Wood) could pair with Kristaps Porzingis, Robert Williams, or Al Horford,” Krivitsky prefaced before saying, “Being able to offer him more than the veteran minimum for a rotation spot on a title contender could tip the scales in the Celtics’ favor.”

Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey called Wood the top free agent still available on July 4 after the initial wave of free agents all found homes and the James Harden and Damian Lillard trade situations put the league in a holding pattern.

“In a contract year, right when (Wood) was starting to look like a high-end starting big man, coach Jason Kidd and an untimely injury torpedoed his role,” Bailey prefaced before saying, “For about a month from mid-December to mid-January, Wood started and averaged 20.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, 2.3 assists and 2.3 threes. After the injury cost him eight games, he never made another start and averaged just 20.8 minutes. And perhaps to the benefit his potential suitors, that closing stretch probably suppressed hid free-agency value. Now, a team in need of some outside shooting and a little shot-blocking can probably secure Wood for a bargain.”

Christian Wood would be a home run signing for the Boston Celtics

In truth, the point guard position could likely use more help with the departure of Marcus Smart, the injury history of Malcolm Brogdon, and the uneasiness of Payton Pritchard’s tenure given his midseason trade request. Joe Mazzulla could use Derrick White as his primary floor general while relying on Jayson Tatum as somewhat of a point forward in bigger lineups, and Dalano Banton is far from the worst break-glass-in-case-of-emergency backcourt option, though.

Given the recent trade exception formed by the Grant Williams sign-and-trade to the Dallas Mavericks, the Boston Celtics have the chance to be a prime destination for the second wave of the 2023 free-agency period. Wood would be the kind of home run swing Brad Stevens can take this offseason as he looks to put the cherry on top of an offseason effort since June that has seen the team get taller, longer, and more athletic.