The Boston Celtics may have swung two deals ahead of the 2024 NBA trade deadline, but that doesn’t mean the team is done making moves. At the time of this writing, the club still has an open 15th roster spot. The free agent pool for Boston to select from has some intriguing names, and more players are expected to be bought out of their current contracts in the next few days.
There are some limitations. Because Boston is above the first apron of the salary cap in the new CBA, the Celtics cannot sign a player who made more than the non-taxpayer midlevel exception on their original contract prior to a buyout. That means Boston can only add players who made $12.4 million or less in annual salary.
With that caveat in place, let’s take a look at some of the most intriguing names the Celtics could target.
Cedi Osman
Veteran guard Cedi Osman has quietly had a successful season as a reserve for the San Antonio Spurs. He’s averaging 7.3 points on a steady 37% shooting on 3-pointers.
Osman was with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the team’s title run in 2018, and has been a consummate role player in the years since. He could provide Boston a stable, knowable guard who can also play on the wing. At 6-foot-10, Osman would also be a size upgrade in the backcourt.
Robin Lopez
In trading for Xavier Tillman, the Celtics bolstered their frontcourt depth. That doesn’t mean having another established veteran big on reserve would be a bad thing as the team prepares for a deep postseason run.
Lopez was traded to the Sacramento Kings on deadline day, and will likely become a free agent. He could offer Boston a steady rebounder, an above-average rim protector, and a good locker room guy.
Furkan Korkmaz
Wing depth is always important in the modern NBA, and it’s possible the Celtics would try to target a defensive-minded player to help guard players like Jimmy Butler and Giannis Antetokounmpo. In Furkan Korkmaz, Boston could help take pressure off of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in that regard.
At times, Korkmaz has been a sold shooter in his career, but his size and speed on defense is what really makes him a special player. He’s also available after being waived shortly after being acquired by the Indiana Pacers.
Seth Curry
If defense is not a top priority for Boston, and instead the team wants to add an offensive weapon to the roster, sharpshooter Seth Curry would be an excellent choice. The veteran guard was just traded to the Charlotte Hornets, and could be a highly coveted free agent if he seeks a buyout.
For his career, Curry is averaging a 43.2% shooting clip on 3-pointers. Likewise, he’s found success in the NBA as both a starter and reserve player. As far as injury insurance goes, that could be a valuable consideration for Boston’s front office.
Blake Griffin
Former superstar Blake Griffin’s last stint in the NBA was last season with the Boston Celtics. He has not signed with a team yet during the 2023-24 season, but he also hasn’t officially retired from basketball either.
If the Celtics are comfortable with their depth chart, tapping Griffin in as veteran leader who knows the team and its culture wouldn’t be a bad use of a roster spot.
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