The Celtics needed a change in the negotiation deadline and achieved that goal on Thursday by landing an initial caliber wing on Evan Fournier in exchange for two choices in the second round. The team also prematurely left its initial center, sending Chicago Daniel Theis in what was a financially motivated deal completed in the negotiation deadline to avoid the luxury tax for Boston.
On the surface, the Celtics appear to be moving in two different directions, adding a win-now piece as a possible location, while taking away a central member of the rotation at Theis for a discouraging return on Mo Wagner and Luke Kornet (likely to be excused).
The Celtics were looking for bigger moves, according to league sources, but those failed, letting the Celtics get the best out of the difficult hand they faced thanks to a discouraging offseason. Jeff Teague was dismissed after playing his best basketball as a Celtic this week, as Boston was no longer playing well enough to justify giving a veteran filler regular minutes instead of young people who needed time to develop. Javonte Green was simply a victim of salary math to help the team avoid the luxury tax.
So what exactly did the Celtics achieve with a traded player exception that earned them a 20-point scorer for four choices in the second round (including the two given up at the time of Gordon Hayward’s signing and switching)? It all comes down to Evan Fournier and how much significant impact he can have in the next two months (and maybe later).
In short, Fournier does not turn the Celtics into an opponent from the East, but meets a need that was created to make this season a complete waste: Scoring depth on the wing. Boston simply had no one but Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Part of it was due to inexperience, part of it was injuries (Romeo Langford), but the burden was clearly becoming too great for these guys, along with Kemba Walker’s inconsistent play and his constant absences.
What exactly Fournier brings to the table is yet to be seen, but this is a long-term audition for the 27-year-old here. The Boston board is evaluating the adjustments around its core now and Fournier will have a chance to prove that he is worthy of a considerable payment in this off-season from Boston or another team in the coming months.
The best scenario for Boston? See what Jordan Clarkson has become in Utah. He was acquired at a low price last year and has now become the sixth man of the year candidate on a crowded team, after signing a reasonable overtime with Utah in the off-season. It can carry the scoring load to the bank and even to the beginners on nights when it is not working. Fournier could play a similar role for Boston and perhaps show that he is more worthy of a long-term commitment than Marcus Smart when his business expires in 2022. At the very least, he should be a much better closing weapon in games, helping Boston to avoid situations in which Smart takes reckless shots in clutch situations when defenses increase in All-Stars.
In a perfect world, the Celtics would have done more in this time frame to better map their future beyond Fournier. Moving from Daniel Theis was a step in that direction (though not surprising, given the lack of feedback). However, this exit opens the door to more opportunities for Rob and Grant Williams right away. The same goes for Payton Pritchard with the departure of Jeff Teague. There will also be regular minutes available on the wing for one by Romeo Langford and Aaron Nesmith most nights now, depending on who wins that playing time. A league source told MassLive that the Celtics will be active exploring the large acquisition market (Andre Drummond and LaMarcus Aldridge will be available) with the starting center point now open as well.
Fournier gives the Celtics another option this summer and those other moves will give the team more information about the players they like among the youth on the team. However, Ainge kicked the can once again in challenging choices that await this off-season, such as finding a way to discard the Kemba Walker contract and whether Marcus Smart is part of the future or not when he enters the final year of his contract. . The team has yet to resolve any of these issues, which is understandable in the midst of a bizarre season full of injuries for both players who have probably kept their trading values extremely low compared to what they have historically been.
The Celtics can only hope that the value of these guys will recover in the second half of the season, as the addition of Fournier takes some of the pressure off a previously insufficient core and returns players to the appropriate roles. This Celtics team needed a little change and the price was low enough not to jeopardize any impending trading options in the off-season, in addition to taking up part of its huge traded player exception. Starting this weekend, a low-cost audition awaits Fournier and the rest of Boston’s young reserves as they try to turn this season around.