The Boston Celtics will go into the offseason with a lot of financial questions at the same time they’ll need to make important moves around the margins to boost their ability to contend for a title — not an easy proposition, to be sure.
What they will know is what the team needs, as well as the general range of players likely be available for the taxpayer mid-level exception (MLE), the most likely tool Boston will have to add an impact free agent.
With the pre-pandemic cap projections set at $115 million and the Celtics already looking a likely taxpaying team even in the pre- COVID-19 era, it seems improbable Boston will have even the full MLE at their disposal.
The two MLEs — previously at $9.75 and $6 million for the full and taxpayer, respectively — will be considerably less, but likely destined for the same group of players the Celtics will want to look at to fill a few lingering needs.
Those needs have changed little since the February trade deadline, but could be exacerbated if one or both of forward Gordon Hayward or center Enes Kanter decide to leave in free agency.
The needs in question are threefold — bench scoring, a reserve guard able to spell Kemba Walker as much as possible in the regular season, and a more traditional, bulky situational big, preferably with above-average defense.
So who are the candidates the Celtics should have their eye on?
Dario Saric — forward — restricted
Saric hasn’t quite panned out to be the potential starter some hoped he might be at this stage of his career, but he might be able to fill the role in the right situation.
Just 26, the Croatian could conceivably compete for some of Hayward’s minutes should the Butler product surprise and opt out of the final year of his deal and seek greener pastures.
He’d also fit quite well as a source of second unit scoring in the more likely scenario that Hayward remains, his career 35.6 % 3-point shooting and competent distribution a potential upgrade over the existing alternatives.
As with the next player on the list, securing Saric’ services hinges on his current team’s plans and finances, but should be monitored closely in the event the Suns envision a new direction at the 4 with Cam Johnson on the roster.
Jakob Poeltl — center — likely restricted
While Poeltl may simply re-sign with the San Antonio Spurs, there’s a possibility the team chooses to move on with an expensive payroll, little postseason outlook and few other options to do something about it.
Poeltl isn’t especially sexy of an add, as he’s mostly just on a roster to counter other, slow but massive bigs and to protect the rim near-basket.
However, the German big man can pass the rock fairly well and finish on the other end of the ball as well, potentially even spot starting against logical matchups.
Odds are good he’ll return to the Spurs given his qualifying offer is just $5.1 million, but he’d be a solid young pickup is San Antonio isn’t in the mood to hold onto his rights through a retooling season or three.
Aron Baynes — center — unrestricted
Oddly, Baynes’ age might be the best reason a reunion between All of Australia and the Celtics might be in the works.
He still has fond memories of his time in Boston and likely caught quite a few GM’s eye after upping his 3-point attempt rate to 4 per game, nearly quadruple his next-best season average.
That alone, with Baynes connecting on a career-high 35.1 % of them, would normally push the former Celtic well outside Boston’s modest spending range.
But at age 33, he likely wants some security beyond next season, and would fit quite well as a situational reserve big who could be used to punish second units with spot starts against key opponents in a role he knows very well.
Jeff Teague — point guard — unrestricted
One of the few floor generals available who could reasonably be expected to take a major regular-season role to help preserve Kemba Walker’s health for the postseason, Teague would see sixth-man-like minutes for much of the season.
More importantly, he has the appropriate skillset to function as both a starter in more of a pure point guard role, but also as a second unit scorer.
A career 35.6 % shot from outside who averaged 5.2 assists per game last season, Teague’s veteran presence could be an affordable upgrade over Brad Wanamaker, who is likely looking for a bigger role while the possibility is open to him.
Harry Giles — forward — unrestricted
Reuniting college friends Jayson Tatum and Giles never hurts ahead of a major contract extension-eligible offseason for the former.
Even better yet, Giles is a surprisingly good prospect to be an unrestricted free agent thanks to some questionable cap management by the Sacramento Kings.
While injury concerns will follow the big man for the rest of his career, he’s another player who at just 22 still presents considerable upside, and has a high enough floor that he’ll at minimum be an upgrade in the frontcourt rotation.
While he still doesn’t shoot far from the basket, his offensive numbers suggest he’ll at worst be a solid role player whose passing and rim protection could prove a worthwhile investment.
Shabazz Napier — point guard — unrestricted
Another potential reunion of sorts, if there’s a better option to spell former Husky Kemba Walker, it’s the man who did exactly that in their march to the 2011 NCAA title.
While the Bronx native’s understudy hasn’t spread his wings like Walker has at the next level, he’s been a consistent, professional floor general who can light up defenses in the right systems.
Shooting 38.1 % from downtown with the Washington Wizards last season, Napier averaged 12 points and 4.4 assists per game with the Wiz while getting to the line a career-high 3.5 times per game.
With the ability to step into an occasional starter role for his former UConn alumnus when Walker needs a night off, there would be few better options out there who are also likely in the Celtics’ spending range.
