Kyle Anderson deemed a 'dream target' for Boston Celtics this offseason
What does Kyle Anderson bring to the Boston Celtics?
My other SloMo thing to watch for in Game 2 is that I doubt Dereck Lively dares him to shoot as many midrange 2s — which Kyle Anderson is good at! (51% on pu2s this year)
— Bowser2Bowser (@bowser2bowser) May 24, 2024
Since all 4 pu2s were against Lively, I wonder if it's a rookie misremembering the scouting report on SloMo pic.twitter.com/OnKb4RX1nq
Kyle Anderson brings more than a veteran presence at 30 years old for the Boston Celtics. His six-foot-eight frame gives him the versatility to guard multiple positions. On the season, the point forward averaged 6.4 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.5 rebounds on 46% shooting off the bench for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In the postseason, his stats have dipped as well as his minutes for the Wolves. Averages of 3.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 44% shooting in 12 minutes does not jump off the page. However "Slowmo" has a very high IQ and 62 games of postseason experience. Bringing this to the C's bench could be dynamic.
Anderson can be either an upgrade as a third big and potential long-term replacement for Al Horford or to run the second unit's offense as a point forward; bringing what players like Gordon Hayward and Evan Turner have done in the past back to life.
What wouldn't Kyle Anderson bring to the Boston Celtics?
Draymond said Kyle Anderson is the X-factor.
— BrickWrld (@BRICKW0RLD) May 22, 2024
*TNT cuts to Anderson’s shooting form 😭 pic.twitter.com/mXjmpMEIqK
The con's are from an efficiency standpoint: the Boston Celtics get a sub-par three point shoot at around 34% from distance, taking less than one a game this year at a below-average free throw clip (71%).
The best situation is for Anderson would be as a primary playmaker on a second unit.
That'd be a decision that could unlock the C's bench to a degree offensively. I do not see a reality where he and a guy like Luke Kornet could play together. A move like this would mean more spacing around him would be needed.
Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey loves the idea of having Anderson on the C's roster in a ring-chasing role -- and making ring-chasing money.
"At 30 years old, it may be a little early for Kyle Anderson to enter the title-hunting phase of his career, but he does qualify for the biggest veteran minimum (the $3.3 million salary)," Bailey prefaced before saying, "And his combination of size, playmaking and defensive versatility would significantly raise the ceiling on Boston's second unit."
It's an ideal situation if Anderson is willing to take a pay cut; which he might not be willing to.