Evan Turner Officially A Celtic

http://www.celticsblog.com/2014/9/29/6865433/celtics-officially-sign-evan-turner



From the team's press release:

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed guard/forward Evan Turner. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Turner, a 6'7" guard/forward, was previously acquired by the Indiana Pacers on February 20, 2014 after being selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the second overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. He appeared in 81 games during the 2013-14 regular season and averaged 13.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in that span. Turner has appeared in 306 contests throughout his NBA career and averaged 11.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 29.0 minutes per game. He attended the Ohio State University and swept the national player of the year honors in 2009-10, picking up the Naismith Trophy and the John R. Wooden Award, along with the USBWA, Associated Press and NABC player of the year awards. He was additionally named the 2010 Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Turner was also named to the 2012 NBA All-Star BBVA Rising Stars Challenge.

In a related move, the Celtics also announced today that they have waived guard John Lucas III and forward Malcolm Thomas.

It'll be curious what the parameters of the deal are.  With the luxury tax line at $76.8M and the team hovering around $73.4M, Turner's deal could be in the $3M per year ballpark with a team or player option next season (most likely a team option with Turner trying to re-establish his value in the league).

UPDATE:

eff Zillgitt        ✔ @JeffZillgitt
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Celtics announced Evan Turner signing today, and I'm told it's a two-year deal for the taxpayer mid-level exception at $3.278M per season.
9:30 AM - 29 Sep 2014
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I'm not ecstatic about that guaranteed second year, but Turner was the second pick of the draft a few years ago and with the salary cap increasing, he's still a decent buy low, high upside pick up for Ainge.




bob
MY NOTE:  A low-cost back up 2/3 with good upside, as the author says.  At worst he'll be a high energy scorer at 2/3 and at best he's a steal.  He's young (he'll be 26 in October), has no history of injuries and probably feels like he has been passed over and around more than he deserves and likes.  I have no problem with the 2nd year. Unless he is just the absolute pits, Danny will find someone who will take him at that price next year. He's not a bust and he was the #2. That will resonate in some GM's office, especially for this money, which is less than they'd be paying for a freshly drafted #2. I find it interesting that he signed for the "tax-payer's mid-level exception".  We're not tax-payers now and, with Thornton, Bass, Anthony and Rondo's contracts expiring this coming year and the salary cap going up with the new TV contract, it looks like we will have the salary cap space to not be taxpayers next year too UNLESS they're thinking there's going to be a big roster salary bump over the next year or two.




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Nice deal. Low risk, potentially medium to high reward.


KJ

Because he was signed with the tax-payer's mid-level exception, the Celtics are not hard-capped.  That means we can make a deal  later this season that takes us over the apron (luxury tax level plus $4mil).

Way to maintain flexibility, Danny!!

Rondo's injury could potentially impact Turner's role with the Celtics more than that of any player not named Pressey and Smart.  On an offensively challenged team, I feel good about having a professional gunslinger around and seeing how Brad can best harness his talent to benefit the team.

Sam

sam wrote:Rondo's injury could potentially impact Turner's role with the Celtics more than that of any player not named Pressey and Smart.  On an offensively challenged team, I feel good about having a professional gunslinger around and seeing how Brad can best harness his talent to benefit the team.

Sam

sam,

I agree. Turner's a pretty good ball handler and he is best in the open court. I'd be ok with the ball centering to him and Bradley or Smart running the wings on fast breaks.



bob



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Somehow I'm more excited about seeing Smart fill a lane on the break than watching him lead the break.  Maybe that will change.

Sam

Compared with Celtics rotation players from last season who are still with the team, Turner's 2013-14 output would rank him 7th in scoring, 6th in rebounding, and 3rd in assists — all based on "per-36-minute" figures.

I hope he'll add a slashing component to the team this season.

Sam

In years when we have a chance for a new banner, everything revolves around that IMO. In years like 14-15, when it would seem we won't contend seriously, everything revolves around managerial moves, subtle as they may be, that move us closer to eventual contention. Having seen no one new play yet, I'd still give Danny an A for effort to make us younger, deeper, and to let the C's be a team where high picks like Evans can reboot.
Let's look at who's new: Zeller, Smart, Evans, Thornton, Powell, Young, Murphy, a group with upside and perhaps some hunger to win. Bravo! Hawk