The Boston Celtics' 15th roster spot remains vacant. And there are several star names still available in free agency. One name they have been connected to is Bradley Beal.
Jake Fischer shared on a Bleacher Report live stream that the feedback he got was not to rule out the prospect of the three-time All-Star teaming up with Jayson Tatum.
From this vantage point, if the Celtics' star forward pushes for that, then it will happen. However, Tatum is notorious for not getting involved in the front office's decisions. He's happy to put his trust in Brad Stevens and the rest of an elite executive branch that has already built a title team around him.
And it doesn't seem like signing Beal is in the best interest of either party. The former All-NBA selection, now 33, wants playing time. In Boston, any minutes that could go to him are better off contributing to the cultivation of the C's burgeoning wings.
That's why Beal joining the Miami Heat appears like a more satisfactory outcome for him. There, he can join a group projected to be among the best in the East and have a meaningful role.
Should the Celtics sign Russell Westbrook?
Again, it's a no from this author. The former league MVP is coming off a campaign where he averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.3 steals. He did so while appearing in 64 games and logging 29 minutes per contest with the Sacramento Kings.
That production and durability at age 37 speak to a level of dedication that will one day have him enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
However, from coughing the ball up 3.3 times per tilt to his struggles from behind the arc, he isn't a great fit in Boston. Westbrook would inject chaos. At times, that can be beneficial.
It's understandable to see his stat line and pedigree and find the idea of signing him enticing. But a player who shot sub-43 percent from the field, under 34 percent from three-point range, and had the turnover problems Westbrook did doesn't have a compelling enough case to join the Celtics' backcourt.
The other factor to consider is how he would respond to sharing minutes off the bench with Mike Conley. He's coming off a year in which he started in 58 of the 64 games he suited up in. His minutes could be at a career low in Boston. And not just because he'd be in the second unit with another veteran guard.
As previously outlined, a crucial part of pacing Conley is that once Joe Mazzulla starts incorporating his bench, there figures to be three wings on the floor more often than two guards.
As with Beal, the development of the Celtics' young wings outweighs any potential benefits from signing Westbrook. Again, it's a situation where both sides are seemingly better off going in different directions.
Should the Celtics sign DeMar DeRozan?
Last summer, it was at least worth considering the merits of acquiring the six-time All-Star in a trade that shed Jrue Holiday's contract. From this vantage point, that still wasn't a move worth making.
Now, DeRozan is available for a relatively low price in free agency. However, that doesn't change this author's answer.
In his age-36 campaign, the three-time All-NBA selection generated 18.4 points, 4.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per contest. He's a mid-range maestro and a better facilitator than he gets credit for.
Unfortunately, the fact that his range doesn't reliably extend beyond the arc makes him an ill fit in Boston.
Furthermore, the same questions about him taking minutes from the likes of Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Ron Harper Jr. would exist. So would the ones related to how he responds to seeing his minutes dip significantly after averaging 31.2 in 77 starts for the Kings last season.
What should the Celtics do with their final roster spot?
At the moment, in this author's opinion, there are two potential paths forward that make the most sense.
One is to leave that 15th slot vacant. That would preserve flexibility. It's also beneficial for tax purposes, further helping to save money. Then, if there's someone Boston wants to sign to that spot, it can do so without having to pry it open.
The other intriguing option is signing Dillon Mitchell to a standard NBA contract. The Celtics could then let the others in the mix decide the battle for a two-way deal.
The former St. John's standout impressed at Summer League. Perhaps, for him to claim Boston's final vacancy, he must follow that up with a strong showing at training camp and in the preseason. Or, maybe Boston's already prepared to act. The Celtics' last open roster spot going to Mitchell is a better use of it than inviting the questions that would come with adding an aging star like Beal, Westbrook, or DeRozan.
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