The Boston Celtics could find themselves in a bit of a jam when it comes to roster spots for the 2020-21 NBA season.
With as many as four draft picks to select and only one open roster spot without players being cut or leaving in free agency, the Celtics will have to get creative.
There’s a number of ways they could address this. Gordon Hayward and Enes Kanter are both free agents, though it’s unclear whether either have considered looking elsewhere.
Daniel Theis, Semi Ojeleye and Javonte Green are on partially-guaranteed deals, but have been contributing — and in Theis’ case, critical — parts of the rotation.
Boston could also draft-and-stash players, but that hasn’t proven an especially fruitful path for the Celtics in the past. They could also trade out of the draft entirely, combining their picks to select in a future draft.
Or, they could trade up. But which path makes the most sense?
Boston will likely choose a composite path combining more than one of these tactics in reality, and whatever direction the team takes will be dependent on the choices players like Hayward and Kanter make.
Yet, combining picks to move up in the draft is a strategy that could solve the crunch regardless of the decisions free agents make, and would have the added benefit of avoiding adding multiple guaranteed salaries just as the team’s payroll begins to spike.
While it’s still too soon to say whether regular season standings could upend the draft order for the Celtics, it’s unlikely to change too much from the current standings.
That would see Boston holding the 17th, 26th, 30th, and 46th overall selections of the 2020 NBA Draft, and all their own picks in future drafts — what players could be had from a combination of these assets and/or one of the team’s many young players?
R.J. Hampton – Guard – 6-foot-5 – New Zealand Breakers
Once seen as a likely top pick in the 2020 draft, Hampton’s star has tarnished a bit after an unremarkable stint with the NBL’s New Zealand Breakers cut short by injury.
at 19, Hampton is still raw, turning the ball over and fouling often. His shot needs work from deep (29.5 %) and from the line (67.9 %), but his defense is solid and his passing quite good.
While his rough edges need of plenty of smoothing, Hampton still projects as a solid starter with upside. Some mocks are projecting Hampton falling to Boston’s range without any trades at all, so a deal to get into position for this NBL alum ought to be easy enough.
Isaac Okoro – Forward – 6-foot-6 – Auburn
Okoro has a lot of variation on where he’s projected; the 19-year-old wing has been mocked as high as fifth overall, and as low as 10th. Getting into his range would likely take much of Boston’s 2020 assets, especially if the more optimistic projections pan out.
While his 3-point shot and free throw shooting could also use work (28.6 and 67.4 %, respectively), he gets to the line 4.7 times per game already, and shooting can be taught.
He’s already defending at a near-NBA level, has excellent footwork, and can cut to the basket with skill and finish. If the shot never materializes, his floor is a versatile wing defender who could slot nicely into Boston’s high-powered offense without demanding too many touches.
And if it does, well — a well-rounded wing scorer who can defend is certainly an excellent problem to have.
Tyrese Haliburton – Guard – 6-foot-5 – Iowa State
Haliburton is another high-variance mock in a high-variance draft, projected anywhere from 10th overall to as high as the sixth pick, and would also likely take much to all of this year’s draft assets to have a chance at landing.
And his profile warrants such a package. While a bit older at 20, the only real knocks on his game are his low free throw attempt rate — just two per contest — and that he has a bit of a slow first step.
He is a competent floor general and excellent defender with a knock-down trey he connects with 41.9 % of the time, and while not an elite athlete, more than makes up for it with his feel for the game.
Killian Hayes – Guard – 6-foot-5 – Ratiopharm Ulm
Dealing to get into Hayes’ range would be a tough sell, and would likely require one of Boston’s more appealing young prospects and the lion’s share of 2020 draft assets controlled by the team. But his pros are so abundant, it’s at least worth the phone call.
The French point guard is just 18, already a wizard when it comes to passing, an above-average defender, and solid overall shot apart from a 3-pointer in progress that could drive down his stock.
His handle is excellent, and while his shooting is a red flag, Boston’s situation could provide a low-pressure environment to bring the Cholet native along slowly.
Onyeka Okongwu – Center/Power Forward – 6-foot-9 – USC
Another player who will likely have a steep asking price to deal into his range, Okongwu is perhaps the most fascinating prospect that could conceivably go late enough to be traded for by Boston.
Projected between the seventh and fourth overall pick by experts, Okongwu is a defensive monster. One of the best shot blockers in the country, he’s got the foot speed to defend the perimeter and feel for the game and sturdy frame to defend more traditional bigs.
His lack of shooting away from the basket and particularly from deep makes Okongwu a bit of a gamble, but his floor is still high as a rim-running big who can get to the line and convert at a respectable 72.1 %.
Should the jumper ever materialize with even mediocre accuracy, the USC product could be one of the few players with real star potential. But then he likely wouldn’t have a shot at falling to a range Boston could reach if he already had it.
