Four Boston Celtics trade targets with the Evan Fournier TPE

Commerce season has arrived! We’re nearly every week faraway from The NBA Finals, however the offseason is already in full swing. After a disappointing exit on the most important stage, all eyes flip to President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens to see how he can enhance this group. Stevens was glorious in his first season establishing the roster, however there are actually clear areas for him to deal with if Boston goes to recover from the hump and win Banner 18.

As most Celtics followers know, the group has fairly a number of traded participant exceptions (TPE) to work with this offseason. The most important is value $17.1 million, courtesy of the Evan Fournier sign-and-trade with the New York Knicks. Let’s check out 4 potential targets Stevens may purchase with this large TPE.

Kyle Kuzma

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After a few powerful years coming off the Los Angeles Lakers’ bench, Kuzma discovered new life in his NBA profession with a commerce to Washington as a part of the Russell Westbrook deal. Whereas the Wizards struggled as soon as once more, Kuzma averaged 17.1 factors, 8.5 rebounds, and three.5 assists per recreation, beginning in all 66 contests he performed.

The Utah product additionally hit 34% of his threes on slightly below six makes an attempt per recreation, which is ok for an influence ahead in right now’s NBA. At simply 26 years outdated, the 6’9 versatile wing may slide in instantly because the Celtics’ sixth man with potential to take over the beginning PF spot as soon as Al Horford calls it a profession.

Kuzma is on the books for simply $13 million over every of the subsequent two seasons (with a participant possibility subsequent 12 months), which is a steal assuming his 2021-22 manufacturing wasn’t an outlier. There’s an opportunity the Wizards see him as a part of their core for the long run, but when he’s obtainable, Kuzma could be Stevens’ No. 1 goal with the Fournier TPE.

Marcus Morris

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Stevens has already proven an affinity for buying gamers he coached in Boston. Why not deliver yet another outdated good friend again?

Morris may present precisely what Boston is searching for with this present roster – bench depth and scoring. There are actually some negatives with this potential acquisition, so let’s get them out of the way in which first. He’s going to be 33 by the point subsequent season begins, and he hasn’t performed greater than 57 video games in a 12 months since 2018.

That being mentioned, he was implausible for the Clippers within the 54 contests he performed final season. Morris averaged 15.4 factors per recreation, additionally grabbing 4.4 boards on a nightly foundation. Whereas he began for L.A. final 12 months with Kawhi Leonard sidelined and Paul George out and in of the lineup, he’s proven the flexibility to supply coming off the bench.

With two years left on his deal, Morris makes a variety of sense as a possible TPE goal for the Celtics.

Duncan Robinson

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This was at all times going to be a divisive decide. The truth of the scenario is that Robinson struggled considerably final season. He was just about unplayable within the postseason, and his defensive limitations are well-documented.

When the 6’7 sharpshooter isn’t hitting his photographs, he can’t be on the ground. When he hits his photographs, he’s one of the vital harmful perimeter weapons within the league, which was confirmed within the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

Regardless of a poor general 2021-22 marketing campaign, Robinson nonetheless hit simply over 37% of his photographs from behind the arc, which exhibits his functionality to supply even when issues aren’t going effectively.

The contract is one other concern. The Heat gave Robinson a five-year, $90 million deal, which is the most important contract ever for an undrafted free agent. Now, he’s on the books via no less than the 2025-26 season, and Miami is seeking to dump him.

If Stevens believes that Robinson’s poor efficiency final 12 months was an outlier, it is a nice alternative to purchase low on the Michigan product. Sure, Ime Udoka must discover a solution to conceal him on protection, and there’s an opportunity he wouldn’t have the ability to see constant minutes within the playoffs.

That being mentioned, if the Celtics can use him accurately, Robinson is strictly the kind of weapon they want.

Jordan Clarkson

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Clarkson could be the most effective reasonable possibility for the Celtics with the Fournier TPE. The problem is, nobody has a clue about what’s happening in Utah proper now. There have been stories of rigidity between Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert for years, and that partnership has apparently reached its breaking level. That being mentioned, till a kind of gamers is dealt, it’s all hypothesis.

Regardless, it seems to be just like the Jazz are heading in the direction of a reboot on the very least, with a rebuild feeling extra seemingly. Quin Snyder opting to step down as head coach says loads in regards to the state of the group. Change is required, and the entrance workplace may very well be open to shifting on from Clarkson.

The 30-year-old has been nothing in need of phenomenal as Utah’s sixth man, averaging 18.4 and 16.0 factors per recreation over the past two seasons. Whereas he’s not an elite shooter, Clarkson provides the Celtics a bench scorer who can get them a bucket when wanted. As a lot as followers could love Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, neither of these guys have the scoring capacity that Clarkson boasts.

The 6’4 guard has two years left on a team-friendly deal and would supply precisely what Boston is searching for with the Fournier TPE.

Whereas the Celtics have a myriad of choices to take a look at with their $17.1 million commerce exception, these are 4 robust candidates who may assist the group proper now. With the TPE expiring in July, we gained’t have to attend lengthy to see who Boston provides to this core.