The Boston Celtics have made a lot of noise with their offseason moves. The Celtics still have some decisions to make, as they only have 13 players on a standard contract and two on two-way deals.
NBA Rumors: Lamar Stevens Best Option For Celtics, Frontcourt Needs Help, Per Insider
Boston’s top seven players are among the strongest in the league. But the Celtics need to add depth on the wing with Oshae Brissett, Sam Hauser, and second-round draft pick Jordan Walsh being next in line behind starter Jayson Tatum. The C’s recently brought in four veterans who can fill that void for a workout. Louis King, Glenn Robinson III, T.J. Warren, and Lamar Stevens were the four players.
Of those four players, Celtics Insider Brian Rabb of Mass Live believes that Stevens is the C’s best option.
“Guys like King and Robinson III are likely non-guaranteed guys at this point of their career with a chance to make the team if they have a great camp. As far as more realistic options, Stevens and Warren are likely looking for guaranteed money. I’m hesitant to give some to Warren, given that a title contender in the Suns let him walk this offseason when they only had minimum contracts to spend. That’s a sign they think he’s likely done so I question whether the Celtics need to add that unless he’s had a big health bounce back this year. Stevens is a nice defensive presence at the wing, maybe a good spot energy guy. I’d lean Stevens if Warren has health question marks still.”
The San Antonio Spurs waived Stevens on July 17 after they acquired the 26-year-old from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Stevens averaged 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds with a .448/.316/.702 shooting slash line in 62 games, including 25 starts.
Warren is an elite scorer who has dealt with several injuries throughout his career. After missing nearly two seasons, Warren returned to the court this year, averaging 7.5 points and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 48.9% from the field in 42 appearances for Phoenix and Brooklyn.
Celtics meeting with two free agent forwards in Boston this week for a potential wing addition, sources say: pic.twitter.com/zTEWDmy3yI
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 23, 2023
King, who was with the Philadelphia 76ers last year on a two-way contract, has appeared in 20 NBA games over four seasons. Meanwhile, Robinson has been out of basketball since being waived by the Sacramento Kings in February 2021. The 29-year-old former slam dunk champion has career averages of 5.9 points and 2.6 rebounds while posting a shooting slash line of .457/.373/.913.
Need For Frontcourt Help
Boston could also use some frontcourt help. Robert Williams and Al Horford will start alongside Kristaps Porzingis. With Tatum starting at small forward, that leaves Brissett and Luke Kornet as the other main frontcourt options. However, Rabb believes Boston should focus on finding another big man before camp rather than relying on Kornet or bringing back Blake Griffin.
Kornet, whose 2023-24 contract is nonguaranteed, averaged 3.9 points and 2.8 rebounds in 69 appearances for the Celtics last year. Griffin, drawing interest from several teams, is coming off the worst season of his career, as he produced just 4.1 points and 3.8 boards in 41 appearances for the C’s a season ago.
Usman Garuba, Bismack Biyombo, and JaVale McGee have been floated around as possible options. McGee is still under contract with Dallas but is expected to be bought out. Biyombo and McGee are very limited offensively but elite rebounders and shot-blockers. Here is what Rabb said about the pair.
“I don’t think C’s will bring in Biyombo or McGee if they keep Kornet around.”
Garuba, who was traded twice in July, was waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder on August 21. The 21-year-old is an outstanding rebounder and solid defender. He averaged 3.0 points and 4.1 caroms in 13 minutes per game over 75 appearances for the Rockets last season. The following is what Rabb said about the C’s possible interest in the 6-8 big man.
“He’s young enough where I’m sure some rebuilding teams will be willing to take a flier on him and offer him a chance to play. The Celtics may have interest in Garuba for deep bench depth, but he’s not going to crack the rotation with everyone healthy.”
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