Three Players the Boston Celtics Must Re-sign

The Boston Celtics loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series marked the end of the 2014-2015 season and the beginning of what will surely be an intriguing offseason for team General Manager Danny Ainge.

The Celtics made great strides this season after trading away Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green. They finished with a 23-12 record over the second-half of their season which was good for second best in the Eastern Conference. That stat alone is quite amazing considering 22 different players saw game action throughout the year.

Boston’s playoff matchup with the Cavaliers was a humbling reminder to all who follow the team that they are still a ways off from contending for a title. Ainge certainly needs to look into acquiring impact players through trade or free agency in order to match the likes of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, but his first order of business is re-signing his own guys who are set to hit free agency this summer.

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Jae Crowder, Luigi Datome, Brandon Bass and Jonas Jerebko have all played out their contracts. Crowder and Datome are restricted free agents. Bass and Jerebko are unrestricted. With that said, which of the four are worth bringing back?

I feel Ainge has to cut deals with Crowder, Datome and Jerebko. They are all pieces of value who can contribute on a title-contendning roster. Bass can be replaced.

Crowder appeared to be a mere throw-in when Ainge flipped Rondo to Dallas in a deal that also landed Brandan Wright and Jameer Nelson. Nelson and Wright were quickly traded out of Boston while Crowder emerged as one of the most valuable Celtics down the stretch. His relentless defensive play and all-out hustle embody exactly what Boston basketball is all about. He’s shown the ability to hit the outside shot, get to the rim and rebound in traffic. Most importantly, Crowder’s unflappable demeanor allows him to shine in the most pressure-filled situations. Crowder must be re-signed.

Datome and Jerebko became Celtics when Ainge traded away aging veteran Tayshaun Prince to the Detroit Pistons.

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Datome is a knockdown three-point shooter. In 18 games, the 27-year-old Italian shot 47% from beyond the arc, with 36 of his 38 field goal attempts coming from deep. He needs to be re-signed. Datome can most certainly serve as sharpshooting specialist off the bench on an top-tier roster. Jerebko can also light it up with his shooting. He shot 43% from the field with Boston and 40% from three. He also excels on the offensive glass and keeps plays alive with his active hands. His size stretches out opposing defenses. Like Datome, there is a place for Jerebko on the Celtics as they continue to morph towards returning to glory. As Tommy Heinsohn said all season, “sign the Swede!”

Bass, who will be 30 at the end of April, is a nice offensive piece. He has excellent shooting touch for a front-court player and can finish around the rim with authority. The only problem is he rebounds poorly and tends to disappear at times. This past playoff series against the Cavaliers highlighted the issue. Bass averaged just five points and two rebounds in the four games against Cleveland. For the money Bass will command, the Celtics are better off investing it elsewhere.

The Celtics have already expressed great interest in re-signing Crowder. Only time will tell how this offseason plays out on Causeway Street.

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