The Boston Celtics got to within two wins of an NBA championship, with a star core that, frankly, is still be too young to reach that highest level. So if the C’s want to get back to the NBA Finals in 2023 and perhaps win the thing, the roster changes will have to come on the margins.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are both under contract in Boston for the next two seasons, and breaking them up or trading either of them feels like the absolute least likely scenario for President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens. Easily the most important thing for the team is that those two simply learn from the 2022 NBA Finals and channel that into improved play and more consistency in those championship moments. They won’t hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy without that.
But assume that does happen. What can the Celtics do to improve the team around Tatum and Brown, to add those pieces that often put championship-caliber teams over the top? The Warriors essentially just proved it. They won three straight to take the NBA Finals in six games because Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson took over the series, but they also needed a superb effort from Andrew Wiggins and got the occasional key contributions from Jordan Poole, Kevin Looney, and others.
The Celtics could certainly get more out of the rest of their roster beyond their two stars, as well. But realistically, the reserves are where the off-season upgrades would come. And Stevens showed in his first go-around as the Celtics’ lead roster-builder that he’s willing to be aggressive and change the mix as he sees fit. So don’t be surprised if the Celtics have decidedly different-looking depth charts in 2022-23.
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Stevens did hint at what he’s aiming to accomplish in the off-season, and it’s certainly not to do anything drastic. As you might expect of Stevens, he’s not going to overreact to the way the season ended, and any changes are likely to be less significant than anything involving a star player. At the same time, Stevens believes that even those little tweaks can have a way of making over your roster, in either good or bad ways.
“Our defense was good enough to win throughout the entire playoffs, even though we slipped a little bit in the Golden State series,” Stevens said in his end-of-season press conference Tuesday. “I mean, if you would have told me going into the Golden State series that we’d shoot 41 percent from three, I would have thought we have a heck of a chance of winning, obviously, but came up short.
“As far as improving, it’s the same old deal: draft, develop, and deals. You just look for things that make the most sense within your group. I think that we have a little bit of a – we have to walk a fine line a little bit. I think teams are fragile. I think the way that teams work together and operate together are fragile. And I think your identity as a team, when you find one that’s successful, which we did this year on the defensive end of the floor and when we were at our best sharing the ball offensively, those things are fragile. And so, just to add [to the team] doesn’t mean that you’re not taking something away from the group. And to change significant pieces in the group doesn’t mean that that might not totally take your identity and shift it in a direction that’s not as successful. And so it’s quite a fine line.”
What should be the Celtics’ plan to get better for next season and put the roster in a better position to win it all? Here’s a quick, early look at the 2022 NBA off-season and some possible ideas for the C’s.
Jun 5, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) brings the ball up court during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors during game two of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Marcus Smart isn’t a bad passer by any means – he just averaged a career-best 5.9 assists in the regular season. But obviously, Smart’s true calling card has always been his tenacious defense, which earned him Defensive Player of the Year honors. Offensively, the Celtics lack what’s come to be known as a True Point Guard™, and could stand to add one.
This will, in fact, become a cliche as the summer goes on. People might already be sick of the calls for the C’s to add a True Point Guard™ – that is, a PG whose strength is facilitating the offense. And, ideally, provide consistently efficient shooting when his name is called.
The Celtics had glaring struggles with ball-handling in the NBA Finals against the Warriors. It led to just an insane amount of turnovers (39 over the final two games) and questions of whether they’d be better suited with a point guard who can bring the ball up the court and distribute it cleanly. Tatum and Brown aren’t meant to play that role; they could benefit greatly from worrying more about getting to their spots and finding open looks at the basket, and passing it off only when it’s the right play.
Smart excels at certain things, but he’s never going to be an elite shooting or passing point guard. His defense is tremendously valuable and he has enough of an all-around game to be a starter, which is why trading him for a True Point Guard™ might not actually improve the team enough to make it worthwhile. Such a move doesn’t seem realistic, anyway.
Then again, Stevens wasn’t afraid to dump Kemba Walker. So it wouldn’t be totally outside the box for him to make big changes at point guard. But for the True Point Guard™, he might have to get it in the form of the next item on the Celtics’ to-do list…
Jun 5, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) dribbles against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) in the second quarter during game two of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
This and the previous item may end up being the same move. Right now, who even is the Celtics’ sixth man? Derrick White? While the veteran stepped up in a big way at times during the Celtics’ run to the NBA Finals, he’s still not going to provide enough offense or high-level facilitation to justify making him your top bench player. Ditto Grant Williams, who has a place on this team as a role player in the frontcourt, but will never score at the level that the team could use among the reserves.
Unless Payton Pritchard makes an unexpected leap in his third season, a legitimate, dangerous scoring option off the bench will have to come outside the organization. Adding a sixth man who can spark the offense while giving Tatum or Brown a breather would give them a dimension they’ve mostly lacked on the court, and have the potential to pay major dividends in the big picture.
Stevens actually acknowledged this particular need when he spoke to reporters Tuesday. He also sounds like he’s not about to give up on players like Pritchard and Aaron Nesmith, who could still have a lot of untapped potential as pure scorers.
“If you ask me right now what we need, I’d like to have a little bit more scoring, consistent scoring off the bench, and I think that we have some short-term needs there,” Stevens said. “But I believe in a couple of the guys that didn’t get a chance to play as much, that they will continue to improve and be knocking on that door soon.”
Another scorer to lift up Tatum and Brown on their off nights, and take more pressure off the two stars, should be a big priority for Stevens in the off-season. Combine a better Tatum/Brown with a third guy that cooks with the second unit, and the Celtics should have a much better chance to finish off a championship.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 17: Kevin Huerter #3 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots against Dennis Schroder #71 of the Boston Celtics during the first half at State Farm Arena on November 17, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
To refresh your memory, the Celtics created a Traded Player Exception (TPE) worth $17.1 million when they swung a sign-and-trade that sent Evan Fournier to the New York Knicks last August. Basically, the TPE allows the Celtics to absorb a contract worth that amount or less, without having to match the money.
This is arguably the most urgent matter on the table for Stevens. The Celtics need to use the Fournier TPE by July 18, because if they don’t use it, they lose it. Even still, their best opportunity to get a deal done with the TPE could be during the 2022 NBA Draft, which begins Thursday night.
Say Stevens wants to use the Fournier TPE to acquire that bench scoring he mentioned in his presser. He’ll need to identify a team looking to jettison a contract and accumulate draft picks. He will also need to be willing to possibly skip a whole draft, because the Celtics have just their own first-rounders in 2023 and 2024, with their second-round picks tied up in prior trades, with destinations TBD.
The Atlanta Hawks and guard Kevin Huerter could be a doable trade partner. Huerter has four years left on his contract at an AAV of $16.25 million. Huerter averaged 14.7 points per 36 minutes last season, while shooting a respectable 38.9 percent from three-point range. But he could turn out to be a redundancy with Pritchard, who was more efficient from downtown (41.2 percent). Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma ($13 million) is a proven scorer who averaged a career-high 17.1 points per game.
Other names to watch on this front are the Mavericks’ Davis Bertans, the Pelicans’ Devonte Graham, and the Clippers’ Luke Kennard. The latter led the NBA with a 44.9 percent rate on threes. They could also aim even higher – how about the Raptors’ O.G. Anunoby? – but it could require basically punting on the draft for the foreseeable future.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 16: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors goes up for a layup against Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics during the second quarter in Game Six of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 16, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
The Celtics have a tenuous cap situation of their own. Most of the league is over the cap right now, though. But if the C’s need to make a big financial sacrifice, it could come in the form of Al Horford, who’s due $26.5 million next season. Horford just had the most accomplished playoff run of his career, averaging 12 points and 9.3 rebounds while shooting 48 percent on threes, and playing in his first NBA Finals as arguably the key piece in the Celtics’ frontcourt.
Even if Horford ends up back for 2022-23, he’s already 36 years old and outperforming his age compared to the typical veteran big man. He was just the 10th big in the last 40 years to start at least 60 games at age 35 or older. He won’t be that available for much longer. The cliff could come at any moment for a player at his stage of his career.
So, it would behoove Stevens and the Celtics to look toward the future in the frontcourt. There’s also the case of starting center Robert Williams, who is one of the more productive two-way centers in the league when on the court, but has battled durability issues throughout his first four seasons. Daniel Theis is under contract for next season, but that’s a roster spot where the Celtics could stand to improve.
It seems like it’ll only be a matter of time until the Celtics have to play an extended period without Horford and/or Williams in the lineup, so a dependable reserve option – if not a long-term answer – at power forward/center should be on Stevens’ list of priorities.
They’ll have options for veteran stopgaps in free agency, like Robin Lopez. They could also try to use their TPE from Juancho Hernangomez ($6.9 million) or Dennis Schröder ($5.8 million), but they may be hard-pressed to make an appreciable upgrade over Theis if they went that route. But this isn’t about adding a high-end talent, this is about adding insurance, because it looks like they’re going to need it at some point.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 16: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts on the bench against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter in Game Six of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 16, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Before Josh Richardson was spun off to the Spurs in the Derrick White trade, he served as something of a facsimile to Tatum when on the floor. He had similar size and length and could defend the position well.
The Celtics missed this element on their roster at times, when Tatum was on the bench. This was an example of a bench-level trade that markedly changed the Celtics’ roster makeup, the kind of move Stevens alluded to in his press conference. Whether it involves White or not, Stevens may be compelled to restore a Richardson type of role to the rotation.
Perhaps Stevens could call the Sacramento Kings and see if they’re willing to part with Justin Holiday and his $6.2 million salary, which the C’s could absorb with one of their lower-level TPEs. Does Jazz veteran Rudy Gay have anything left in the tank?
Keep checking back for more Celtics off-season coverage here are 985TheSportsHub.com. It’s likely there will be movement on the roster, perhaps even this week with the draft coming up.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. You can also email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
L-R: Alabama G JD Davison, St. John’s F Julian Champagnie, Purdue C Trevion Williams (Getty Images)
The NBA offseason is a quick turnaround. Just one week after having their season end in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, the Celtics will be on the clock in the NBA Draft.
It’s not just to the day of Game 6, but could be to the hour as well. The Celtics will have a bit of a wait before their selection, after trading their first round pick (25th overall) to the San Antonio Spurs in the Derrick White trade deadline deal. Their lone remaining pick is their second rounder, which is the 53rd overall pick in the draft.
Once the Celtics do get on the clock, there’s no real set guideline for them to follow. That late in the draft, and with the roster they currently have, they could realistically go with any position and either high floor or high ceiling players. With that said, which players stand out as logical fits? Here’s a look at some names to know…
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: JD Davison #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide dribbles against Prentiss Hubb #3 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 18, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Davison was a five-star recruit coming out of high school, ranked as the best recruit in the state of Alabama and 15th best in the nation by ESPN in the Class of 2021. In his lone year on campus in Tuscaloosa, he played 25.8 minutes per game mainly coming off the bench in a deep frontcourt rotation for the Tide, and average 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and a steal in 25.8 minutes per game.
At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Davison’s carrying trait is his athleticism, which he displayed on both sides of the ball as a dynamic driver and aggressive defender. On top of that, he’s shown flashes of being a high-level passer as well. His shot is still somewhat of a work in progress (33 percent on mid-range jumpers, 30.1 percent from three last season) but the 19-year-old does seem to be improving in that area.
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – DECEMBER 29: Alondes Williams #31 of the Wake Forest Deacons against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on December 29, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Williams is one of the older players in this draft at 23 years old. His college career began with two years at the Division-II level before transferring to Oklahoma, where he came off the bench for two seasons. Last season he transferred again and played a starring role for Wake Forest, averaging 18.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.2 steals in 34.1 minutes per game.
At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds Williams is a fit for a team with a ‘position-less’ philosophy like the Celtics. He’s a true playmaker, and showed growth as a finisher at the rim last season. On defense, his size and athleticism allow him to guard multiple positions.
Feb 2, 2022; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Collin Gillespie (2) shoots against Marquette Golden Eagles guard Tyler Kolek (22) during the first half at Fiserv Forum. Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
If the Celtics are looking to add another pure shooter to their roster at this stage in the draft, they could turn to Gillespie. The two-time All-American and Big East Player of the Year shot 41.5 percent from deep last season on 277 attempts – the fourth-most in Division-I college basketball. In five years with the Wildcats, he shot 38.7 percent from deep. He might not offer much in terms of playmaking or defense, but could be a potential microwave scorer at the end of the bench.
Feb 16, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; St. John’s Red Storm guard Julian Champagnie (2) dribbles against Xavier Musketeers guard Colby Jones (3) in the second half at Cintas Center. Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Staying in the Big East, Champagnie was in the running for conference Player of the Year in 2022, and was named First-Team All-Big East for the second year in a row. Another ‘position-less’ kind of player, Champagnie is a capable scorer from all three levels of the floor at 6-foot-8 and 215 pounds. Last year he ranked second in the Big East averaging 19.2 points per game on 41.4/33.7/78.1 percent shooting. The previous season he averaged 19.8 points per game.
Champagnie is a well-rounded player who comes in with two years of starting experience at the age of 20. His size and scoring ability make him a potential mismatch player off the bench if his shot continues to develop.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 10: Jabari Walker #12 of the Colorado Buffaloes drives against Rivaldo Soares #11 of the Oregon Ducks during the Pac-12 Conference basketball tournament quarterfinals at T-Mobile Arena on March 10, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Buffaloes defeated the Ducks 80-69. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Next up on the list of ‘position-less’ players in Walker. At 6-foot-8, 215 pounds he can play like a shooting guard, small forward, or power forward. He had a breakout year for Colorado last year, averaging 14.6 points and 9.4 rebounds in 28.1 minutes per game.
Walker displayed a good touch from three in his two years in Boulder, shooting 39.9 percent from deep in 59 career games with the Buffaloes. He doesn’t have the same raw athleticism as some of the other players on this list, but makes up for that with good instincts and feel for the game.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 25: Peyton Watson #23 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket in the second half against the Arizona Wildcats at UCLA Pauley Pavilion on January 25, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Watson’s career path is similar to Davison. The 12th-ranked recruit in the Class of 2021, he stayed close to home at UCLA but found himself playing a more limited role off the bench. His playing time was more limited than Davison’s at just 12.7 minutes per game. Some experts were surprised to see him declare for the draft with such limited tape, and speculated he could end up a first-round pick if he stayed another year.
Watson moves like a guard but measured in at 6-foot-8, 205 pounds. He has tremendous athletic upside, but as is to be expected with his lack of playing time in incredibly raw. A year in the G-League could help fast-track his development. Late in the second round, teams aren’t drafting players to make an immediate impact, and for a team like the Celtics a high-ceiling project player like Watson would make a lot of sense.
Purdue forward Trevion Williams (50) boxes out Indiana forward Race Thompson (25) during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game, Saturday, March 5, 2022 at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette. (Nikos Frazier/Journal & Courier/USA TODAY Network)
As we saw in the NBA Finals, the Celtics have to change the way they operate when Robert Williams is not on the floor. Keeping him healthy and rested will be something the Celtics need to focus on moving forward, so adding another true big to the roster could be considered a need. That’s something the Celtics could address through free agency, but with teams not valuing true power forwards and centers as much as they used to, more talented and NBA-ready players at those positions can be found later in the draft.
At Purdue, Trevion Williams was a physical presence underneath at 6-foot-10, 255 pounds. He proved to be a polished low-post scorer, with some passing ability as well. But the best part of his game is rebounding – he grabbed 7.4 rebounds in just 20.1 minutes per game for the Boilermakers last season. As a four-year player, his game is more advanced than some other players at the position. He could potentially come in and compete for deep rotation minutes as a rookie.
Michigan State’s Tyson Walker, right, offers extra coverage while helping out to guard Illinois’ Kofi Cockburn during the second half on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal/USA TODAY Network)
Cockburn may be a bit of a reach at 53rd overall, but if the Celtics want a traditional big to add another paint presence he’d be worth it. At 7-foot-1, 285 pounds, Cockburn is an old-school center who will dominate under the rim but doesn’t offer much beyond that. He’s incredibly productive in his role, and averaged 20.9 points on 59.3 precent shooting with 10.6 rebounds and a block in 30.7 minutes per game as a junior for the Illini last season. That performance earned him consensus First-Team All-American honors, after being a second-team All-American last season. He’d be another option to help spell Robert Williams during the regular season.
NEXT… Mazz: An NBA Finals Analysis of the 2022 Celtics
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