Now that the Boston Celtics decided to stand pat at the NBA Trade Deadline, here are 5 buyout candidates that can strengthen the playoff roster.
Another NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone. Once again, Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has decided to stand pat.
With four All-Star caliber players in Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward, the Celtics do have a chance to go very deep in the playoffs as is, but obtaining another big man was the popular choice for Ainge to try to go out there and get.
With Clint Capela going to the Atlanta Hawks and Andre Drummond going to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the two big men the team was rumored to have interest were no longer available.
So, what next for the Boston Celtics?
The buyout market should free some veteran players who could help the team. If not a big man, there are some players who could provide some scoring off the bench and fill that need of a player who could be the eight or ninth man off the bench.
Here are five buyout candidates who could strengthen the Boston Celtics playoff roster.
5. Evan Turner
When it comes to production off the bench, ex-Boston Celtics wing Evan Turner is an interesting name expected to hit the buyout market now that the NBA Trade Deadline has passed.
With a salary of $18,606,556, his 13.2 minutes per for the Atlanta Hawks prior to being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves certainly isn’t worth the contract. Averaging just 3.3 points per game this season, it appears Evan Turner’s best days are behind him.
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Speaking of his best days, a reunion with the Boston Celtics could rejuvenate Turner, who has played 63 percent of his time at the point guard position. And while the Celtics are rumored to have interest in reuniting with the 31-year-old wing, it really doesn’t make much sense.
Why?
While Turner adds flexibility and strengthens the end of the bench, adding him would slow the growth of 2019 first-round pick Romeo Langford. It also doesn’t make much sense given what the team already has at that position, unless the plans for Evan Turner would be more at the point guard position.
The strength of adding Turner is that he has flourished playing under Brad Stevens and he does give the team more depth which allows for some late-season rest for their star players.
4. Tyler Johnson
A player who has had some success against the Boston Celtics in the past is Phoenix Suns wing Tyler Johnson.
Averaging just 16.6 minutes per game, the 6-foot-4 Johnson is a player is a buyout candidate who could be an asset for a contending team as a 3-and-D option off the bench.
With a salary of over $19 million, Johnson is another player like Evan Turner who is being paid basically to sit on the bench. Also, like Turner, Tyler Johnson would give the Celtics some depth in the backcourt and also some end of the bench scoring.
But, is he better than what the team currently have with Brad Wanamaker?
In his best season with the Miami Heat, Johnson averaged 13.7 points per game primarily playing point guard. That kind of production could be a value to the Boston Celtics going down the stretch, especially if the injury bug continues and players like Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart need rest.
3. John Henson
In looking for a player with length, Detroit Pistons forward John Henson is a veteran the Boston Celtics may kick the tires on if he is bought out of his contract.
Involved in the NBA Trade Deadline deal that sent Andre Drummond to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Henson will provide depth for the Pistons behind 24-year-old Christian Wood and Sekou Dounbouya, but will he be happy with that role?
As a big man capable of double-double numbers, Henson could certainly provide some front court depth off the bench, especially if the injury bug continues to nag Robert Williams.
Other than providing some rebounding depth and rim protection, John Henson has some ability to stretch the floor, but not as consistent as a Marvin Williams who will be bought out by the Charlotte Hornets but is reportedly signing with the Milwaukee Bucks when the buyout becomes official.
Again, John Henson is not a big name, but a player with prior success on winning teams who could spark some rejuvenation in Boston.
2. Isaiah Thomas
Talk about a storybook ending.
How ironic would it be if Isaiah Thomas ended up in a Boston Celtics uniform coming off the bench after all?
After being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers from the Washington Wizards, Thomas is expected to be bought out and will be a free agent once again and why not the Celtics?
Averaging 12.2 points a game this season during his time with the Wizards, Thomas does still have some value, especially coming off the bench. Despite how he felt Danny Ainge did him wrong with the trade that sent him to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving, the former All-Star guard still expresses love for Boston and Boston still has love for him.
Although Isaiah Thomas is still a liability defensively, he would provide some scoring punch off the bench that the team is looking for.
As well as Brad Wanamaker has been playing as the backup point guard, adding Isaiah Thomas back to the mix would be an upgrade offensively as well as please the hometown fans.
1. Tristan Thompson
Will the Cleveland Cavaliers free Tristan Thompson?
Well that is going to be the million-dollar question over the next week or so as Thompson was hoping to be traded at the NBA Trade Deadline.
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As of now the Cavaliers claim they will keep Thompson for the remainder of the season even with Andre Drummond added to the mix. The team is reportedly hoping to shop a sign-and-trade for the center over the summer as he will be an unrestricted free agent following the center.
But this is the NBA, and teams and players are known to change their minds seemingly over night when it comes to players and contracts.
So, yes, a Tristan Thompson buyout can still happen and if it does, the Boston Celtics are expected to be in on him as well as other contenders. Averaging 11.9 points and 10.4 rebounds, Thompson is a big man who could put the Celtics over the top.
Just ask former Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce who is already making a plea for Tristan Thompson.
"“Tristan, you are the one player who can put the Boston Celtics over the top,” Pierce said on Thursday’s episode of The Jump. “Taking a couple extra less millions is worth it. I’m telling you, it’s worth it.”"
If Thompson wants to play for a contender this season, losing some money by entering the buyout market should intrigue him. If it does, why not Boston?