Which Boston Celtics free agents are likely to return – and who aren’t?

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Which Boston Celtics free agents are likely to return – and who aren’t?



Justin Quinn
Sun, July 18, 2021, 10:10 AM·3 min read



The Boston Celtics have five players whose contracts have officially ended, and it is not out of the question all five will be playing for another team in 2021-22. But at least some of them may interest new President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens in bringing back.

Still others — probably the majority — are at best a coinflip to return, pending what moves the team makes on the trade market and on draft night. Which free agents ought the Celtics write the check for, and which ones should they cut loose? With the stakes — and potential tax bill — starting to gain some real heft, the decisions Boston makes aren’t just about the player they bring back. They also need to consider the opportunity costs of those they don’t explore bringing on in their steads.

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the candidates.


Evan Fournier


AP Photo/Elise Amendola

Fournier seems to be a pretty divisive player, with some seeing him garnering a big paycheck in his looming free agency while others believe he'll be pretty affordable even as one of the offseason's better wing options. We think the truth is somewhere in the middle, but not so pricy as Celtics ownership won't bite the bullet and pay up. Having the St. Maurice native's Bird rights in hand certainly doesn't hurt, either. VERDICT: Stays


Luke Kornet


AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

Kornet could be a useful depth option for Boston's frontcourt, but with Al Horford rejoining the squad, his primary utility of stretching the floor is easily outclassed. Probably it will come down to one of him and Tacko Fall, and if it does we like Fall's history with the franchise as the deciding factor. VERDICT: Goes


Semi Ojeleye


David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Ojeleye is a much-loved veteran of the deep Celtics rotation, but given he still hasn't been able to graduate from it and did little to show he belongs on a competitive roster, it seems very unlikely he returns. It's not out of the question he could be brought back as depth insurance depending on how things break, but we don't expect the Ojeleye Factory to be up and running in Boston next season. VERDICT: Goes


Tremont Waters


David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Both Waters and Fall should have one more season of eligibility as two way players, and Waters has the more useful skillset and positionality for this team. He's also failed to separate himself from the glut of deep bench youth, but that's not entirely his fault with the paucity of opportunities last season presented. We expect Waters to latch on to a team with greater developmental opportunities than Boston. VERDICT: Goes


Tacko Fall


Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports

Fall could go either way after having shown slow but steady development despite little opportunity to get in reps in games that count. His ongoing relationship with the team as a public-facing player suggests they appreciate having him around, but he's also far from a lock to be brought back. VERDICT: Toss-up


Bob
MY NOTE, MY VERDICTS:

Fournier - Stays, or at least gets resigned.  Whether he is traded afterwards is something else.
Kornet - Goes, especially now that we have Moses.
Semi - Goes.  He looked better by the end but if we keep Grant we don't need Semi, and vice versa.
Waters - Goes.  Especially if Yam Madar looks anything at all like the real deal.  We can wait a year for Waters or we can wait a year for Madar.
Tacko - Stays.  He has made progress, he's no worse than Kornet (not that that's saying much) and he's a crowd favorite.  I don't think I'd sign him to the Celtics, but another year in the G-League would be ok.  Both he and Waters were cheated, a bit, due to COVID.  They would have gotten tons more minutes, and improved a lot more, if they had gotten 30mpg in Maine.  If push came to shove I'd give Tacko Kornet's spot on the roster before I'd bring back Kornet.  If there was one clear foul up by Danny it was trading away Theis for two players, one of which never even made it to the end of the season and the other who probably won't be back the next season.

Another player not mentioned here because, technically, he's not a free agent is Carsen Edwards.  His contract is relatively small, $1.8M, but guaranteed for this year.  I would trade him for a box of Krispy Kremes and donate them to a homeless shelter.  We have a couple of small TPEs, ones that are really too small to bring in any real talent.  I'd trade him, plus enough TPE to cover his salary, for almost anybody or anything.  If the league allows it, I'd do it.


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