As the available cap space around the NBA begins to dry up several days after the start of the league’s 2023 free agency period, players finding themselves on the wrong end of the Association’s annual fiscal version of the game of musical chairs will have to find the best possible fit for their skillset on a contract often much smaller than they were initially hoping.
In such scenarios, it is not uncommon for players to elect to sign on a discounted deal for the possibility of a role well beyond what their salaries would otherwise suggest, which ought to catch the eye of Boston Celtics fans.
And with a number of quality free agents looking at minimum deals or perhaps part of a midlevel exception, NBA analysts have been trying to project where some of the bigger remaining names might go.
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— Dr. Justin Quinn (@justinquinnn) July 6, 2023
Such was the case on a recent episode of the “NBA Front Office” podcast, which had hosts Keith Smith and Trevor Lane linked up with Yahoo Sports reporter Jake Fischer to chat about where such players might land when the dust settles.
Smith floated the Celtics as a potential destination for unrestricted free agent forward Christian Wood to help shore up Boston’s injury-prone and aging frontcourt rotation.
Unsigned guard free agent Jay Scrubb shined against the Miami Heat on Saturday afternoon. https://t.co/Gip5J8xXQJ
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 9, 2023
“So we’re in a spot where Christian Wood can land with (a potential title contender),” said Smith.
“Boston is looking for another big potentially because they moved on from Grant Williams. So you could replace on a minimum with a guy like Christian Wood … you have the defensive infrastructure where you can probably minimize his flaws, put them out there without (Al) Horford, put him out there with Rob Williams (III), probably not with Kristaps Porzingis.”
“You probably bleed too much in that situation,” added the podcast host in a nod to the potential defensive shakiness of such a frontcourt combo.
“The Celtics are one of the most elite professional franchises in sports,” said Jefferson. https://t.co/Rri1zQnCUj
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 9, 2023
As for Oubre, Fischer asked, “can he go to Boston be like a bigger switch? You mentioned during Williams (commentary); that would be interesting to me.”
“Thinking about the Celtics and the fact that yeah, they do kind of have an opening in the frontcourt. But he can be a small ball four; I would say all three of those (bigs on Boston’s roster )are centers at this point. Al Horford’s shooting is interesting enough where you’re able to play him and Rob the other, but Boston would make some sense to me for him.”
“I think so,” agreed Smith. “Oubre, basically anybody who needs a wing, he’s got to be at the top of their list.
The Celtics’ current roster may not be stronger than last season’s, and additional moves are needed to emerge as a clear-cut title favorite. https://t.co/upEPREV9Cm
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 9, 2023
With the Celtics needing to squeeze every last bit out of each dollar they spend under the new collective bargaining agreement, such signings would be total coups for the storied franchise.
Whether they can sell either of these talents on using the opportunity as Dennis Schroder and Malik Monk have in recent days remains the challenge, but it could very well make sense for all involved.
“I learned my first day going into Boston that everything affects winning,” explained Walsh. https://t.co/FUpjlWBzCj
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 9, 2023
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