Boston Celtics on the verge of losing another top transfer target as the super prolific player has made public his intensions to sign a monumental deal with….
Between now and the trade deadline, the Celtics could be better off keeping things as they are. However, there are advantages that go beyond this season that might persuade them to act.
Four hours ago, Bobby Krivitsky
The Boston Celtics have the best record in the NBA with a 32-9 record. Prior to this Friday’s heavyweight matchup at TD Garden against the reigning Finals MVP Nikola Jokic and the reigning champion Denver Nuggets, they are also 20-0 at home.
In an effort to provide his club with the best opportunity to win Banner 18, the franchise’s president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, recently expressed his desire to see “how we can find another big wing.”
However, Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser aren’t expected to be moving, and the Celtics aren’t going to rearrange their starting lineup either. Although Stevens said he had the “green light” from ownership to use their $6.2 million Grant Williams traded player exception (TPE), they are not required to.
It’s best to look at players who would fit into the TPE when speculating about potential targets for Boston, even though they could send away salary to save that tool for the offseason.
John Konchar of the Memphis Grizzlies and Naji Marshall of the New Orleans Pelicans were two possible targets mentioned by ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Bobby Marks of ESPN Offers a Celtics Target John Konchar and Naji Marshall
In reference to the first, the more superior of the two in this writer’s perspective, the soon-to-be 26-year-old has a $1.9 million deal that is about to expire. In addition to averaging 7.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, two assists, and almost a steal per game, he is making 38% of his 2.4 three-pointers.
However, how would the six-foot-seven forward react to playing less minutes and being a DNP (coach’s choice) during the playoffs?
Right now, he’s accruing 18.7 minutes every match. While Oshae Brissett is playing 11.8 minutes per game in eight fewer outings, he’s making a strong case to be the big wing the Celtics are looking for internally—a path Stevens has stated he thinks could yield the best answer.
Given Brissett’s performance in this capacity, Boston’s reluctance to disrupt the team dynamic, and their ability to add Marshall in the offseason, it would seem best to stick with what they have.
As was previously mentioned, Konchar would supply the shooting and is a capable facilitator who feels at ease operating from outside the three-point line. Additionally, he will earn $6.2 million per year for the next three seasons after signing a $2.4 million contract for the 2023–24 campaign. This means that he could essentially serve as a longer-term Grant Williams TPE.
The Celtics do not have to acquire Konchar before the deadline on February 8th, even though the benefits of doing so extend beyond this campaign. That traded player exception expires on July 12th.
