It’s TPE time in Boston, as the Celtics enter free agency Thursday with the $17.1 million traded player exception (TPE) they received in the Evan Fournier trade almost a year ago ready to go. Because this exception expires on July 18, it seems Brad Stevens is primed to use the TPE to bring in another rotation player to give the offense that extra spark of creativity and capability it was missing last season.
The Celtics are already brushing up against the luxury tax line, so any deal using the Fournier TPE without sending out a key rotation player will guarantee they are jumping into the tax. But ownership and Stevens have both made it clear they are expecting to be taxpayers after challenging for a title a few weeks ago.
The Celtics can use the entire $17.1 million on one player or break it up into multiple portions in separate deals. But considering the team also has TPEs worth $6.9 million and $5.9 million from trading Juancho Hernangomez and Dennis Schröder, respectively, it makes the most sense for Boston to use as much of this Fournier TPE on the best player it can afford. (The TPE can not be combined.) The Celtics could always acquire a player on an expiring contract, who would then in turn be a virtual TPE for next season.
But after reportedly passing on acquiring Alec Burks from New York, it seems the Celtics are looking for more than just a placeholder. So whom should they target?
The shooters
Duncan Robinson ($16.9 million)
Robinson would obviously change the level of shooting on the Celtics’ second unit. During the 2020-21 campaign, he averaged 3.5 made 3-pointers per game. The entire Boston bench averaged 4.6 this past season. Even in a down year by his standards, he shot 37.2 percent in 2021-22 on an extremely high volume of difficult attempts. Though he fell out of the rotation in Miami, he’s a world-class shooter whose defensive warts usually aren’t bad enough to offset his impact at the other end. Robinson was a difference-maker while starting for a finals team just two years ago. He’s 28 now. There’s reason to think he could still help.
If the Heat want to dump his salary, the Celtics could absorb it without sending any money back. Miami could still want to keep the contract. Even if Robinson fails to find a way back into the regular rotation, his salary could be useful in a bigger trade one day. The same deal, which extends through the 2024-25 season, would be a bad one for the Celtics if they don’t plan to use him as a key player. – Jay King
Dāvis Bertāns ($16 million)
Bertāns wouldn’t exactly fit the defense-first vision. Still, he would give the Celtics a totally different dynamic as a bench shooter with the ability to operate flying around screens. Even if he would only have a limited role, he would give Ime Udoka an option to play a new style. Like Robinson, Bertāns has significant money on his contract beyond the 2022-23 season, which could turn Boston away from him. Unlike Robinson, Bertans has never proven he can handle a big role on a great team. – King
Malik Beasley ($15.6 million)
I included him here just because he would, in fact, fit into Boston’s biggest trade exception. I don’t see it happening, though. Though the Timberwolves presumably do not consider him untouchable, they have plenty of reason to hold onto him. He was one of their top offensive threats this past season. At 25, he’s young enough to be part of their promising core. Though his field goal percentage and scoring average dipped significantly this past season, that’s because he almost entirely cut 2-point shooting out of his game. He focused more on what he does best as a plus shooter on aggressively high 3-point volume. – King
Terrence Ross ($11.5 million)
The perpetually available Ross has remained in Orlando because the team has held firm on wanting a first-round pick for years, and nobody has been interested. After he shot just 29.2 percent from deep in his age-30 season last year, his price as an aging bench sparkplug on an expiring deal is clearly nowhere near a first, especially after that was what Portland paid for Jerami Grant ahead of the draft last week. Ross should be available for just a second rounder or two and could be worth a gamble for a bounce-back season if the Celtics can’t find anyone on the market for good value. Plus, Ross’ contract then can be used as trade filler for the upcoming season, keeping at least a chunk of the TPE alive. – Jared Weiss
Norman Powell (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
The Clippers can’t keep everyone, can they?
Luke Kennard ($13.7 million)
The Clippers have loaded up on wings, acquiring Norm Powell and Robert Covington to join Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Terance Mann, Marcus Morris and Nicolas Batum, if he returns. If they’re healthy (and who knows if they will be), they might not have many free minutes for Kennard, who led the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage this past season. – King
Norman Powell ($16.8 million)
He’s an obvious fit for everything the Celtics could want out of a bonus scorer off the bench; it’s just hard to envision a way to work him into the current backcourt rotation at a level that would keep him satisfied, since Derrick White has earned the sixth man role. Powell has been accustomed to closing out games as the primary sixth man and has been a starter the past few seasons, so this would seem like a tough sell even beyond the price it would take to get him. – Weiss
Marcus Morris ($16.4 million)
There are similar concerns about role with Morris, but the difference here would be the strong relationships he already has with the Celtics, most notably Jayson Tatum. Morris is never shy about what he wants, but he at least would be stepping into a situation where he already has mutual respect established, and that can make a lesser role more manageable. He would bring the kind of consistent scoring threat the Celtics need and would be another floor-spacing forward alongside Grant Williams, which would allow the second unit to stay physical, even if it’s lacking height. – Weiss
Kevin Huerter, aka Red Velvet. (Joe Murphy / NBAE via Getty Images)
Young, intriguing vets
Kevin Huerter ($14.5 million)
Boston has been exploring Huerter deals for some time now, as he is an obvious fit for what it needs in a shooting guard who can attack and create for others with size. The Celtics really only have one high-movement shooter in the rotation in Jaylen Brown, so adding someone else who can thrive in a lot of the plays they run for Brown would help offensive consistency. He also is a capable pick-and-roll playmaker. The Hawks have been valuing Huerter more than just a first-round pick it appears, so it’s hard to see a deal for Boston that wouldn’t involve a core rotation player. But with the reported Dejounte Murray deal seemingly prompting even further dealing for Atlanta, Boston may be able to work a deal out. – Weiss
Kyle Kuzma ($13 million)
Boston doesn’t have an athletic 3-and-D forward, and Kuzma would bring a lot of what the Celtics are missing in the supporting cast, plus Washington’s reported Will Barton acquisition could potentially make Kuzma more available. He’s someone who can play at pace and operate in the half court as a spot-up wing or post-up forward. Washington had him initiate some, which is a weak point still as he enters his age-27 season, but he wouldn’t have to do much of that in Boston. It’s known around the league Washington is willing to move him, so Boston could have a shot at landing him with a future first. – Weiss
It would be unexpected, but weird stuff happens sometimes
Jonas Valančiūnas ($14.7 million)
This would be a stylistic shift for the Celtics, as Valančiūnas operates out of the low post more than anyone on this team by a wide margin. The Celtics tried that approach early on and went away from it, but bringing in a post creator of this caliber could give them more offensive versatility they need. Valančiūnas could allow for Rob Williams and Al Horford to keep their minutes load down and keep the Celtics in double big lineups as much as possible. They have a bigger need on the perimeter, but he is a potent player worth exploring. – Weiss
Derrick Rose ($14.5 million)
Rose has been good when healthy over the past four seasons. He just hasn’t been healthy all the time. After undergoing ankle surgery in December, he didn’t play over the remainder of the season for the Knicks. Though not the same athlete he once was, he can still create plays off the bounce, which would give the Celtics bench a new dynamic. Obviously, Tom Thibodeau loves Rose. The Knicks are widely expected to acquire Jalen Brunson, and young guard Immanuel Quickley is already on the roster, but Rose’s production still transformed the team over the past couple of seasons when he was on the court. When the Knicks were dumping veterans for salary space, it’s probably telling they held onto him. The Celtics could also have reservations about adding an older player with such a checkered injury history, so, for many reasons, this seems unlikely. Rose doesn’t have any guaranteed money beyond the coming season, though, so at least that part would make sense for Boston. – King
Jordan Clarkson ($13.3 million)
What do the Jazz plan to do this offseason? Are they stripping things down and turning toward a rebuild? If they are, they could be interested in moving veterans like Clarkson. At 30, he still has two more seasons left on his deal, including a $14.3 million player option for 2023-24. Clarkson isn’t the most efficient player or best defender, but he’s a high-powered scorer who could help prevent the Boston bench from long droughts. Because of his bold playing style, he would not be the easiest fit, but he would definitely up the firepower in the Celtics’ second unit. – King
Jae Crowder ($10.2 million)
What’s going on with the Suns? Why do they seem so interested in moving on from their good young center, Deandre Ayton? How much are they willing to change? Crowder is an important piece for Phoenix. He started every game last season. He’s tough, versatile, smart and shoots well enough that defenses pay attention to him. The Suns should value a guy like that. But who knows? Crowder is entering the final year of his contract. If he’s available, the Celtics should have interest. Stevens has always considered Crowder a winner. – King
Larry Nance Jr. ($9.7 million)
Boston has valued Nance in the past. I have no idea whether the Pelicans would consider trading him for a small return, but with Zion Williamson returning to take a lot of minutes at power forward, the Celtics could at least look into the cost. Nance wouldn’t fit any of their greatest needs. Still, on an expiring contract, he would give them more frontcourt depth without hindering their long-term salary situation. – King
(Top photo of Duncan Robinson: Jim Rassol / USA Today)
