‘No risk’ for Boston Celtics to pursue All-NBA PG, says analyst

The Boston Celtics should pursue former All-NBA Third Team floor general Goran Dragic due to the lack of risk involved with signing him according to FanNation’s Ben Stinar — who feels the Slovenian point guard can help fill the void left by Marcus Smart’s departure.

“(The Celtics) could use more point guard depth on the roster, and they also traded Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this summer,” Stinar prefaced before saying, “Adding Dragic would give them a true point guard they can rely on as a backup. He is an excellent passer and would be able to help run the second unit (while also being able to facilitate for Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis). Dragic will likely be a player who signs for a veteran’s minimum contract, so there would be no risk for the Celtics to add him to the roster.”

Dragic is 37, but his numbers have remained solid as he’s aged into a reserve. In 2022-23, he made 52/145 attempts from the 3-point line, good for a 36% conversion rate, and he had five assists and five rebounds per-36 minutes.

Boston Celtics were ‘pissed’ when Bucks signed Goran Dragic

Before the postseason, the Boston Celtics brain trust was “pissed” about the Milwaukee Bucks being able to add Dragic to their roster after adding Jae Crowder.

“(The Celtics) are one of the teams pissed that the Bulls let Goran Dragic go because now, with Jae Crowder, the Bucks just have all this depth at every spot,” an unnamed Eastern Conference executive told Heavy’s Sean Deveney  “If you go back to the Christmas game, the Celtics have always felt good about what they can do against Milwaukee. But now, Milwaukee has this extra layer of flexibility they can throw at the Celtics, a guy who can surprise you and play 20 or 25 minutes and help you win a game.”

With the Bucks being bounced from the Eastern Conference postseason in the first round, this report looks funny in hindsight. But if the Celtics were angry about Dragic signing elsewhere before, perhaps that can influence the remainder of their offseason now.