The Boston Celtics have the most effective document within the NBA. They’re high of the Eastern Conference and are additionally thought of to have one of the proficient rosters within the NBA. But, the Celtics nonetheless have an open roster spot to fill. Boston is predicted to make an addition with the Feb. 8 commerce deadline quick approaching.
Throughout a current information convention following a staff observe, Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens mentioned the kind of participant he’s wanting so as to add for the second half of the season.
In accordance with The Athletic’s Jay King, Stevens famous how Boston can be wanting so as to add one other ‘large wing.’ Nonetheless, he was additionally fast to notice the Celtics have been restricted in commerce assets.
Discovering a backup wing that may present worth on each side of the ground has been Boston’s splendid addition for 2 seasons. Boston added Osahe Brissett and Lamar Stevens throughout the summer season, but they’re each identified for his or her defensive upside and are seen as power guys. Dalano Banton has the scale to play on the wings however lacks the taking pictures stroke to be efficient.
The Celtics have a number of draft property they might use in a commerce, together with a $6.2M commerce exception through the Grant Williams sign-and-trade to the Dallas Mavericks in the summertime. Discovering somebody who can affect each side of the ball and is keen to return off the bench for such a low wage will probably be extremely troublesome. It is why Boston continues to seek for the elusive “wing with dimension” that Stevens is speaking about.
Essentially the most logical consequence is that the Celtics stand pat on the commerce deadline. They’ll use their traded participant exception to signal a participant off waivers, as long as his wage suits throughout the worth of the exception. In any other case, they’ll seemingly convert one among their two-way gamers to fill the ultimate spot.
Neemias Queta has carried out properly. Nonetheless, Drew Peterson is also a candidate to change from a two-way contract, as Stevens might even see him as the same undertaking to Sam Hauser, who has thrived since coming by means of Boston’s improvement system as an undrafted rookie.
Regardless of the Celtics determine to do, it is prone to be a fringe transfer. Their top-eight rotation is very proficient and acting at a persistently excessive stage. Stevens is searching for depth, and that narrows the participant pool. Both approach, Boston will probably be a menace within the postseason and can proceed to be seen as championship favorites.