Where do Celtics turn now with Irving and Horford likely gone

Where do Celtics turn now with Irving and Horford likely gone

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The Boston Celtics appear poised for the possibility that All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Al Horford will both walk away this summer, forcing the team to recalibrate its path to title contention.

A youth movement appears imminent and the Celtics must decide the best way to complement younger players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Fortunately for Boston, there’s a handful of ways to restock the roster, whether that’s hunting for sign-and-trade options to recoup assets for departing stars or utilizing newfound cap space to keep the team competitive while a path forward comes into focus.

The Celtics have potential to immediately open anywhere from $28-32 million in cap space by renouncing their rights to free agents (that would include Irving, Horford, and Terry Rozier). Patience might be the team’s biggest asset but here’s a few potential options for the team moving forward:

BRADLEY BEAL

The Wizards will soon be under new leadership and team brass will have to decide whether they want to build around Beal, who has two years left on his deal, all while being hamstrung by John Wall’s bulky contract.

Beal is set to earn $27.1 million next season and the Celtics could absorb him into potential cap space with the right maneuvering, which means they could offer a package heavy on picks that might position the Wizards for max flexibility if they could ever move Wall’s albatross of a deal.

CLINT CAPELA

Horford will be looking for a team that can pay him the long-term, big-money deal he’s looking for in departing Boston, but he will also prioritize being on a contender. Maybe a team like the Los Angeles Clippers would interest him, using their cap space to sign Horford and Kawhi Leonard. But, in the absence of a deal with a team with space, the Celtics might be willing to facilitate a sign-and-trade to bring back young talent and/or assets.

Capela, a 25-year-old rim runner, might be an intriguing piece to put alongside Tatum and Brown. He drew some scrutiny for a less-than-stellar series against the Warriors this postseason but he’s coming off a year in which he averaged 16.6 points and 12.7 rebounds over 33.6 minutes per game. He’s scheduled to earn $16.4 million in 2019-20.


JRUE HOLIDAY

The Pelicans got Lonzo Ball as part of the trade package for Anthony Davis and might be tempted to add another point guard if Darius Garland is on the board at No. 4 on Wednesday night. Might they consider moving for assets at that point?

Holiday, 29, is coming off a season in which he averaged 21.2 points, 7.7 assists, and 5 rebounds per game. He’s one of the best two-way guards in the league. He’s scheduled to earn $26 million next season and Boston could offer a package heavy on picks to give David Griffin even more future assets to build with.


AARON GORDON

Orlando surged to the playoffs last season and seems to be moving in the right direction, but the Magic also have a bevy of athletic big men and have always seemed a bit conflicted about whether Gordon is a long-term option.

Gordon is set to earn $19.9 million next season and maybe the Magic would listen to offers for the still-only-23-year-old depending on how their roster takes shape early in the offseason.

KEVIN LOVE

It seems like just yesterday that Love was frolicking around Fenway Park, hobnobbing with Rajon Rondo. He’s 30 now and might not fit the Celtics’ timeline but he’d seemingly be available as the Cavaliers navigate their own rebuild.

The danger for Boston: Four more guaranteed seasons of escalating money for Love, though he’d certainly help replace the leadership and production lost in Horford’s departure.


ANDREW WIGGINS

New leadership in Minnesota probably wouldn’t mind moving Wiggins and his big-money deal if they’re not convinced he’ll ever figure it out there. The Timberwolves can’t be overly patient with Karl-Anthony Towns almost assuredly desiring to win now but they’d listen to anyone interested in a Wiggins swap.

HASSAN WHITESIDE - OPED IN - OFF THE BOARD

The Celtics probably wouldn’t view Whiteside as a long-term option but they might be willing to bring him in — especially if they could collect additional future assets — in order to defray Miami’s bloated tax bill. Whiteside is expected to opt into a $27 million final year but comes off the books next summer.


DANILO GALLINARI

Celtics could pry some more draft assets from the Clippers and help them free up the space to sign someone like Horford by taking on the final year (and $22.6 million) of Gallinari. His salary comes off the books after the season and Boston could seemingly pry a pick or two if the Clippers are eager to load up if Kawhi Leonard comes west.

JULIUS RANDLE

If the Celtics were going to use their cap space to target players at less-than-max money with big upside potential, they could target someone like the 24-year-old Randle. He averaged 21.4 points per game for New Orleans last season before declining his player option to enter free agency.

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Not sure Beal makes much sense for us now, with Horford leaving.

Capela maybe, but who do we have to send back to Houston to get him?

Sign and trade with Horford doesn't seem to work since Al wants $25M a year deal.

Capela and Gordon coming back for Horford and #14 pick might work salary wise.

But Horford would really want to go to Houston to play to agree to a sign and trade #1 and why would Houston trade TWO Starters who are both younger for Horford?

no interest on the rest of them myself. Randle is a guy who puts up big stats on losing teams.

BTW, lets see if Irving ends up more like Carmelo than LeBron when his career is over. Big stats guy, who makes his teams worst.

Just sayin'

Whatever happens, I have little to no faith in Ainge. He doesn’t draft as well as he trades but doesn’t/can’t keep players for very long due to his asinine, hurt personal feeling of being traded away by Red while Bird and McHale stayed. This is the guy who traded Pierce, who should have been a Celtic-for-life, and Garnet, drove Ray Allen away, and dumped IT, Bradley, and Crowder to get a head-case and a hot/cold Morris. But he keeps the Dancing Bear??? Machinations of Ainge’s “grand plan” have yielded Tatum. That’s pretty much it. Now, he’s supposedly on the verge of trading away Brown (on the rise) for a draft unknown? Ainge should have been fired after he lied to Ray Allen and allowed Rondo to create a wedge that divided the team. When he’s had multiple 1st round picks, his record is poor, so this year shouldn’t be any different.

Chris Grenham: . @ShamsCharania on @SiriusXMNBA earlier today: “The Celtics are going to prioritize getting a center, maybe someone like (Nikola) Vucevic. … They’re fully operating under the belief that those two guys (Kyrie and Horford) are walking.” – via Twitter chrisgrenham
Free Agency, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic

as some have proposed here. perhaps the Baynes move is to get enough cap space to make it happen?

Let's hope Danny gets Vuc.

Forget about any sign and trade with AH. It is not going to happen.

Forget about anyone on this list that is not a center.

We are losing our starting center.

I would not make a deal for Capela unless it involved AH and I really do not think that will happen. No sign and trade..very rare and difficult to accomplish.

If Boston plans to open up Cap space, Vuc is the most obvious target.

painter33 wrote:Whatever happens, I have little to no faith in Ainge. He doesn’t draft as well as he trades but doesn’t/can’t keep players for very long due to his asinine, hurt personal feeling of being traded away by Red while Bird and McHale stayed. This is the guy who traded Pierce, who should have been a Celtic-for-life, and Garnet, drove Ray Allen away, and dumped IT, Bradley, and Crowder to get a head-case and a hot/cold Morris. But he keeps the Dancing Bear??? Machinations of Ainge’s “grand plan” have yielded Tatum. That’s pretty much it. Now, he’s supposedly on the verge of trading away Brown (on the rise) for a draft unknown? Ainge should have been fired after he lied to Ray Allen and allowed Rondo to create a wedge that divided the team. When he’s had multiple 1st round picks, his record is poor, so this year shouldn’t be any different.

Painter,

Totally unrelated, or maybe I'm already draft OD'd before the draft even starts, but what kind of dog is that in your avatar?

The head looks just like my chocolate lab.

Regards

The Celtics have remained active in the days before the NBA Draft. League sources told BostonSportsJournal.com that Boston has had discussions with multiple teams about absorbing a large veteran contract with their anticipated salary cap space. The team is exploring leveraging that cap space into additional future assets (players and/or picks) in exchange for taking on a contract another team is looking to get rid of. – via Boston Sports Journal

that ain't a good sign.

kdp59 wrote:The Celtics have remained active in the days before the NBA Draft. League sources told BostonSportsJournal.com that Boston has had discussions with multiple teams about absorbing a large veteran contract with their anticipated salary cap space. The team is exploring leveraging that cap space into additional future assets (players and/or picks) in exchange for taking on a contract another team is looking to get rid of. – via Boston Sports Journal

This is the type of move that reflects a rebuilding team.

There have been multiple reports of things that Boston may be interesting in doing. Who knows what is happening behind the scenes.

Whiteside from Miami fits that salary dump idea.

K. Love from Cleveland

Ibaka from Toronto, if they resign Leonard.


Ibaka and Whiteside are both expiring deals, so if they attach a future first with them, I guess maybe.

Love has multiple years on his inflated deal, though Danny seemed to like him in the past.

Okc is way over the cap and tax line, but hard to see them just dumping S. Adams.

Plumlee from Denver..maybe if they are looking to get some cap room.

Adrian Wojnarowski: Suns will send the No. 32 pick to Pacers too, source tells ESPN. Pacers are taking Warren into salary cap space. – via Twitter wojespn


nice deal by the Pacers!!

NYCelt - she’s a half black Lab and half Border Collie. Super-smartest, sweetest dog ever, as she has the best traits of both breeds. And, she a svelte 80 lbs! She loves adults, kids, other dogs, cats, rabbits but not, definitely not, squirrels.

A rebounder would be nice as well as a point guard.

Brian Robb: Stevens on uncertain roster: “We feel good about our foundation and learn about the disappointment we all shared. We are optimistic and positive as we look towards the future. I certainly understand why it may not be (positive) on the outside.” – via Twitter BrianTRobb
Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics

Bobby Marks: Boston is now sitting at $25.8M in room (factoring in the Terry Rozier hold) after trade with Phoenix. Could increase to $34M without Rozier. – via Twitter BobbyMarks42