Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens let it slip that the Celtics are keeping an eye out for a bigger wing to add to the ball club’s rotation ahead of the NBA’s 2024 trade deadline. And while he did make it clear that this addition could be an internal one — Lamar Stevens, Svi Mykhailiuk, Dalano Banton, and Oshae Brissett all fit the bill and are not really part of Boston’s rotation of late — fans of the team can’t be blamed if they immediately made a beeline over to their favorite trade checker site to see if they can’t find a reasonable trade target.
We say “reasonable” due to the financial and roster constraints the Celtics have to consider, with a limited range of salary likely not exceeding what Boston can do with the traded player exception (TPE) generated by the signing and trade of Grant Williams to the Dallas Mavericks.
With that, Boston could absorb a player into the TPE, worth $6.2 million, plus an additional $250,000 in salary — and we have done you the solid of finding five potential candidates the Celtics could consider.
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Let’s take a look.
Keita Bates-Diop - Phoenix Suns
The Suns may not decide they are out of the postseason race until it’s decided for them given the splash new owner Matt Ishbia wanted to make on buying the team. But an 18-16 record could quickly become a much worse one if injury were to afflict Kevin Durant or Devin Booker for any length of time.
Should that occur, the Suns might be open to dealing some of their less-essential players, and Bates-Diop is the sort of player Stevens hinted about. A 6-foot-8 combo forward who does a bit of everything might be had — though his poor 3-point shooting doesn’t make him the sexiest option.
2023-24 salary: $2.3 million
Torrey Craig - Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are in a similar if worse situation, with injuries having taken the air out of a season they’d hope to salvage at least in part. Should they decide to go the asset accumulation route, Craig could likely be had at a low asset cost.
While older than Bates-Diop, he’s also a competent if unremarkable shot from 3 (34.9% though considerably better in recent seasons) with a bit less of a well-rounded game.
2023-24 salary: $2.5 million
Jalen McDaniels - Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are another team in more or less the same situation, and could decide to retool more aggressively before the deadline. If they do, McDaniels is currently playing some of the worst ball of his career with Toronto, hinting he may be disaffected and hoping for an escape.
If one doesn’t believe his current play is representative of what the 6-foot-9 wing can do when engaged, one is left with a solid defender who can rebound and move the ball a bit, but his salary is notably larger than the players mentioned above.
2023-24 salary: $4.5 million
Simone Fontecchio - Utah Jazz
Same story, different conference with the Jazz, especially given their current status as a rebuilding team may not see Fontecchio as part of their long-term future.
The Italian wing stands at 6-foot-8 and has been knocking down over 40% of his treys on volume this season, making him an especially intriguing option for Boston along with his solid rebounding for his position.
2023-24 salary: $3 million
Saddiq Bey - Atlanta Hawks
If Boston wants to push their chips in — or what is left of them, anyway — for a big wing, this guy is our clear favorite. A strong defender with a good outside shot and good rebounding skills, Bey also checks the Brad Stevens box of having torched Boston in the past.
As with all the above targets, it’d require the Hawks to decide some asset collection was the right call with his contract, but as a looming free agent with an expensive payroll already, Atlanta could potentially be convinced.
Would the ask be too high to leave Boston some firsts for an emergency? Quite possibly — but it’s a call Boston should make just the same.
2023-24 salary: $4.5 million
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