Boston Celtics Look to Spend Wisely this Offseason
For the first time in recent memory, the Boston Celtics and general manager Danny Ainge have oodles of cap space. Come July 1st, they can throw cash at free agents across the league, in the hope of luring a big fish to Boston. The question remains, however, how much of a potential $33.2 million Ainge will be willing to spend. This NBA free agent class isn’t exactly stacked and the Celtics themselves don’t have a history of signing superstars away from more appealing markets.
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The biggest name being tossed around is LaMarcus Aldridge, the All-Star power forward who has spent his entire career with the Portland Trail Blazers. Most rumors circulating have the big man either staying put or returning to his home state of Texas to play for the Dallas Mavericks or San Antonio Spurs, but reports claim the Celtics to be in pursuit as well. Whether Aldridge has any interest making a move East is yet to be determined.
A far less flashy, but still attractive option, is Detroit Pistons’ center Greg Monroe. While he hasn’t racked up the same accolades as Aldridge, at only 25, he’s four years younger, and could mostly likely be had at a much more reasonable price. The Celtics desperately need an enforcer in the middle. Monroe has the potential to fill that void. In Detroit, he shared minutes and touches with fellow big man Andre Drummond. With the paint to himself in Boston, he could easily build on the 16 points and 10 rebounds he averaged this past season.
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Other options are out there. The Celtics could make a play for All-NBA first teamer Marc Gasol or restricted free agent Kawhi Leonard, but departures from their respective franchises seem highly unlikely. In all honesty, I hope the Celtics hold off on breaking the bank this offseason. They managed to make a surprising playoff appearance after trading away Rajon Rondo and have four picks in the upcoming draft. This team seems built for the steady climb.
They flourished last year after Ainge acquired point guard Isaiah Thomas from the Phoenix Suns. He played only 21 games in Boston and fans should be excited for his first full year with the team. Ainge has always been more of a dealer than a recruiter. Eight years ago, he worked his magic and traded for both Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett in the same offseason. They came to town to join Paul Pierce, forming Boston’s Big Three, and guiding the Celtics from last place to a championship.
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Ainge has always been willing to pull the trigger if the right deal is out there. I expect more fireworks on draft night as the Celtics try and move up the board than during the rest of the summer. They have a great young coach in Brad Stevens and some exciting players on the roster. Adding an Aldridge or a Monroe would propel them up the Eastern Conference standings, but expect Ainge to spend wisely. He hit the jackpot with Garnett and Allen. Hanging Banner 18 will likely take a more gradual ascent.