Typically, trades are exciting for NBA fans. Some even think the transactions are more fun than the games themselves. However, Boston Celtics fans probably saw enough swaps this summer. Key players like Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis found new homes while the team aimed to restore financial flexibility.
With more moves almost certainly looming over the next year, it’s never a bad time to think about potential trade targets, regardless of how small the move may seem.
New York Knicks guard Tyler Kolek may be a great sleeper trade candidate for Boston. The second-year man out of Marquette seems poised to be buried on New York’s bench for a second straight season, after the Knicks recently added depth with Malcolm Brogdon and Landry Shamet.
Does this mean he’ll be available? Maybe not, considering that any extra depth could be nice with Brogdon’s injury history, but there’s a chance that New York would at least take offers on the 24-year-old with the amount of talent they already have at the guard spot.
Tyler Kolek fits nicely into what the Celtics have been doing
Kolek isn’t the type of player who immediately helps the Celtics get better. He’d likely spend a fair amount of time up in Maine with the G-League Celts before being ready for NBA minutes. At the same time, he definitely fits into what President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens has been cooking up this offseason.
"We were looking for those guys on those contracts that have upside, and who are competitors, who are workers, who want to be good and haven't hit their peak yet,” Stevens told reporters back in July.
Kolek is for sure a competitor who seems to have the drive to improve. His pathway to becoming a second-round pick was anything but easy.
After playing high school ball in Rhode Island, he started his collegiate career at George Mason. He then transferred to Marquette for his final three seasons and got better each year. Kolek eventually won Big East Player of the Year in the 2022-23 campaign and was named an All-American in his senior season.
Kolek only appeared in 41 games as a rookie, playing about seven minutes per outing. He was given little opportunity to prove himself as a pro, but many members of the Knicks community feel like he has some potential to be a rotation piece someday.
The price point in any potential trade would likely be limited to one or two second-round picks, making for a low-risk, high-reward potential play. Plus, Kolek’s contract is only worth about $2.2 million annually and includes a team option in the 2027-28 season. If anything, he could develop into a player who contributes above his paycheck, which is something Boston could certainly use with many of their top players making big money.