Boston Celtics Mailbag

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/02/boston-celtics-mailbag-bradley-beal-trade-pursuit-tpe-possibilities-grant-williams-extension-scenarios-isaiah-thomas.html



Boston Celtics Mailbag: Bradley Beal trade pursuit, TPE possibilities, Grant Williams extension scenarios, Isaiah Thomas


Updated: Feb. 18, 2022, 9:22 a.m. | Published: Feb. 18, 2022, 9:22 a.m.



Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) drives to the basket ahead of Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)AP


By Brian Robb | brobb@masslive.com



We’re running a weekly mailbag during the Celtics season. If you have questions about the Celtics or NBA, email brobb@masslive.com or tweet @briantrobb

Hi Brian, trying not to be reactionary, but seems officials’ calls are getting worse and the challenge rule could be improved.  There are many momentum calls early in the game that don’t get challenged because the coach wants to save it for Q4.   Is it totally unreasonable to give each team 7 challenges per game and each challenge costs one timeout regardless of success. Duration of the review is limited to 1 minute 15 seconds just like a regular timeout.  Why wouldn’t this work?  Thanks. —Andy


I like where your head is at Andy but let’s slow this train down a little bit. Seven challenges?!? Let’s start with two or perhaps one and you get another one if you are successful on your first. Seven challenges would kill the flow of the game although it would be entertaining to see each player petition their coach to challenge every single foul they’ve every committed.


When are we bringing in Isaiah Thomas?? — Sid

Brad Stevens was asked about him in his weekly interview with Toucher and Rich last week and pretty much dodged the question while professing love for Thomas. I think, honestly, fans missed the best chance at Boston bringing Thomas back during the team’s COVID outbreak a couple months back. Thomas was already under contract with other teams at that point so the timing never worked out to bring him back for a 10-day deal or two. Now? The Celtics are likely far more interested in bringing in young talent they think they could develop for the long term with their final roster spots rather than Thomas. Perhaps they bring in a veteran or two to round out the bench but outside of an injury to the backcourt, I’d be surprised if its Thomas, though it would make for a great story.

Assuming Wyc is willing to go deep into the tax next year, how do you see us using these TPE’s? Being the third team absorbing salary with a pick attached or initiating trades and sending out picks to get a player? Thanks man, —Tim

I definitely think we are going to see option number two on that front. By trading for a pair of long term contracts at this trade deadline in Derrick White and Daniel Theis, the Celtics have already committed more money to next season, making absorbing a bad salary unlikely to be in the budget. Boston is in win-now mode for the foreseeable future after those deals so TPEs will certainly be used to adding players to improve the team with draft picks in all likelihood. Boston created at least five new ones at the trade deadline and still have the sizable Evan Fournier TPE to use potentially this summer for possible free agent signings (although the hard cap could be a deterrent that front).


With several open spots, any chance we see Juhann or Yam this season? Justin

I don’t see it happening this year. Neither has developed well enough just yet where signing them in the present would help the team in the present. Since Boston owns their rights for the foreseeable future, there’s no need to waste a year of their rookie deals in just a half season. I would assume both will get a look for an NBA deal or two-way slot next season after NBA Summer League but patience might be the play for both players if Celtics find better options for those slots in the short-term.


Do you think this offseason it’s better to try for 3 stars or follow Phoenix and have 2 stars and great role pieces? — Jake

It’s a fascinating question and what happens for the rest of this season may help us answer whether option two is better around Tatum/Brown. There’s no going back if the team uses other key assets to land a third star so my guess is the current path is the one they want to explore first. Whether they give it another season or make a judgment based on the rest of this year’s campaign will tell the story.


Are you concerned at all about last night loss to the Pistons? Or do you chalk it up more to being shorthanded on the second night of a back to back a day before the All-Star break? — NPO

The late-game collapse was a bit concerning given some old isolation habits surfaced between Tatum and Brown. Jaylen also got lost quite a few times on the defensive glass which really came back to bite yet. However, the fact the Pistons shot over 50 percent from 3 and hit some really tough crunch time shots makes me concerned less. Boston was due for a letdown and they still almost won despite it while being down a couple of key players.


Do you think Grant will get an extension this off season — Keri

He’s certainly playing his way into consideration for one with the way he’s shot the 3 ball this year. I am going to guess the Celtics hold off on it barring Williams agreeing to a very team friendly deal. Boston has a whole lot of long-term money committed and signing Williams to an extension  makes him tougher to trade until the extension would kick in 2023. Flexibility is probably the name of the game this offseason so unless the team is convinced that Williams is Boston’s long-term starter at power forward, it’s hard to imagine them making a considerable commitment that could limit other trade options in the interim.


What would have to happen cap wise to fit Beal in this summer? — Frank

The Celtics won’t be able to sign him outright in free agency with their cap situation, particularly after adding White and Theis at the trade deadline. That makes trading him as the only realistic option (via opt-in and trade or a sign-and-trade). The opt-in would be far more preferable for Boston since it wouldn’t come attached with any hard cap limitations for the season. The Celtics have plenty of matchable salary (Horford, White, Theis, Smart) along with guys on rookie deals to make the math work. A combination of those players plus significant draft compensation is likely the package that will be offered if the team makes a serious run at Beal. Whether or not this front office believes that’s the best path towards contending remains to be seen. It’s also far from a lock that what Boston can offer would be the best package offered for Beal so he would likely need to push his way towards Boston to make such a deal come to fruition.


Bob


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This was good! Very good questions and answers!

db