The NBA’s negotiation deadline is less than a week and the direction the Celtics will take with their squad in the midst of a worrying drop (12-18 in the last 30 games) has put Boston on the verge of falling out of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Although a major change at the core of the team remains highly unlikely (Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Kemba Walker), despite the team’s struggles, there is a case to be made that the team will be working with other areas on the list in order to better balance the squad or further develop the youth of the team in the second half of the season.
What exactly can some of Boston’s veteran players bring back in an exchange? We are going to work out some estimates of what some Celtics could look for if they become available on the market in the coming days.
Semi Ojeleye
Age: 26
Remaining contract: One year, $ 1.75 million
Overview: Having a good season, but his skill set is somewhat redundant with Grant Williams, now that his 3-point shot has arrived. Keeping both on the list seems unnecessary, especially with Romeo Langford set to return in the next few days. If Ojeleye is not hired beyond this season, his cheap salary may make him a good player on some playoff team or perhaps on a team interested in hiring him again as a restricted free agent.
Potential value: Choose half-final for the second round
Tristan Thompson
Age: 30
Remaining contract: One year, $ 1.75 million (team option)
Overview: The veteran big man is currently in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, potentially complicating the prospect of moving him into a business. However, there are many teams with hopes of playoffs that could be looking to increase their resilience and Thompson would certainly do the trick on that front. His defense fell when he entered his 10th NBA season, but he is a guy who is willing to do the dirty work and should fit in with most teams, as long as there is enough offensive space around him. Boston could simply transfer him to release his $ 9 million for the next season in exchange for an expiring deal, but league sources told MassLive that the organization still has high regard for Thompson, so that scenario is unlikely. They will want a rotating player or draft resource, instead of letting their mid-level hiring go for nothing.
Potential value: Bank player and / or small draft resource (choice of second round)
Daniel Theis
Age: 28
Remaining contract: One year, $ 5 million
Overview: If the Celtics decide to sell some pieces in the next few days, the German pivot is likely to have more value among the secondary players. Theis earns a very cheap salary for his $ 5 million production, making it easier to work on equal terms with any team in the league. Theis remains a mediocre 3-point shooter (34 percent), but he has a reliable mid-range jumper and is the best moving center on the team, a skill set that will appeal to any team looking to increase its central depth. It is perfectly possible that Theis will be part of the long-term plan in Boston as a platoon with Rob Williams (Thompson should be transferred in this case), but if the Celtics think they will take their price off the market, moving it now would make a lot of sense. for the right offer. Getting a final choice in the first round for him is probably a little too ambitious, but a couple of choices in the second round or an unproven young player with some team control would be worth adding to Boston’s diminishing asset chest.
Potential value: Two choices in the second round and / or an unproven bank player.
Without commercial value
Jeff Teague / Javonte Green
Overview: Two guys who can fill a role in the squad, but are borderline players in the NBA right now. The Celtics will receive nothing of value for either.
Young players are probably still not worth selling
Payton Pritchard, Aaron Nesmith, Romeo Langford, Carsen Edwards, Grant Williams
Overview: All of these guys are available at the right price, but the Celtics would be selling low on all of them now, aside from maybe Payton Pritchard due to a lack of consistent gameplay (Nesmith), poor health (Langford) or underwhelming gameplay (Edwards, G Williams). Boston would probably be selling little to all of these players compared to their draft positions and I don’t think the Celtics are ready to sell little or cut bait for many of these guys. Some could be used as a sweetener in any trade, but the Celtics are not going to get any strong value from any of these guys on their own.