The Boston Celtics won the Gordon Hayward free agency sweepstakes. Hayward has officially signed a four-year max contract with the Celtics worth $128 million. What are the five biggest questions we have in regard to the new look Celtics?
Boston, home to 17 NBA championships, is one of the most storied franchises in NBA history. Today, the Celtics were officially put back on the map. The Boston Celtics landed the biggest fish on the free-agent market in the form of Gordon Hayward. After winning 53 games and the number one seed in the East a year ago, Boston has catapulted itself into championship contention. Despite a strong push from the Jazz and Heat, the Celtics came away winners in order to land Gordon Hayward. What are the 5 biggest questions that remain in regards to Hayward and the Celtics?
Despite a strong push from the Jazz and Heat, the Celtics came away winners in order to land Gordon Hayward. Pundits originally questioned the fact that Boston failed to land Paul George or Jimmy Butler in a trade. The fact of the matter is, Gordon Hayward was their top priority this summer and couldn’t execute a trade for another player to preserve cap space for the Hayward signing. With Hayward now in the fold, the C’s can now tinker their roster and work to continue to improve. What are the 5 biggest questions that remain in regards to Hayward and the Celtics?
5. Renounce Kelly Olynyk, can they find a way to keep him?
Unfortunately for the Celtics, I’ve done the math and Kelly Olynyk has to go. Signing Hayward into max cap space (along with releasing Jordan Mickey and or Demetrius Jackson) forces the Celtics to renounce their bird rights on Kelly Olynyk. Prior to the Hayward deal, Olynyk held a cap hold of $7.36 million as a restricted free agent. That number is no longer attainable in order to fit Hayward into cap space.
The good news for Celtics fans is that doesn’t mean the team is done adding to the roster. Olynyk could conceivably return to the Celtics if he is willing to take the Non-taxpayer Mid-Level Exception. The MLE would be worth $8.4 million for one year. However, Olynyk, 26, would likely be looking for a long-term deal which is unattainable from Boston.
Along with Olynyk, Jonas Jerebko, Jordan Mickey, and the James Young cap holds will all need to be removed to make the math work. That seems easy enough for Boston after adding a superstar like Gordon Hayward. Filling out the rest of the roster is now the challenge for Celtics.
4. Which recent draft pick contrbute off the bench
Condemn Danny Ainge all you want for his lack of patience but his overload of assets makes life much easier in filling out the rest of the 15-man roster. The Celtics have nine sure-fire players on the roster including the new man Gordon Hayward. The question now is what will the rest of the roster look like?
2016 European draft-and-stash players Ante Zizic and Guershon Yabusele look like a good place to start. Zizic has already come to terms on his rookie deal which will pay him a low base salary of $1.645 million in 2017-2018 as the 23 pick in 2016. Zizic, 6-foot-11, gives the Celtics a much needed rebounder and rim protector that has been seriously lacking in Boston. The Celtics ranked No. 27 in the NBA in rebounding differential. Zizic showed some flashes of brilliance in his first Summer League action scoring 9 points and 5 rebounds in 19 minutes. Still not convinced Zizic is a factor? Interestingly enough, Zizic’s former coach overseas is none other than David Blatt who gave his former player a ton of praise.
"“One guy that sort of comes to mind is [Steven] Adams from Oklahoma. And he’s certainly turned out to be a pretty fine player. That’s the first guy that sort of jumps out at me when I think of a comparison.”"
Yabusele could also factor in but the Celtics aren’t sure if they are going to keep him overseas for one more year. Yabusele, 21, was brought over to the G-League affiliate the Maine Red Claws late last season. Yabusele, the 16 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, played well in two G-League contests putting up 18.5 points a game. Yabusele, otherwise known as ‘French Draymond’, primarily played last season in China where he averaged 20.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game over the course of 43 appearances. The Celtics hope the French native can develop into Draymond Green of course as a 6-foot-8, 260-pound, power forward that fits the mold of the modern NBA. It’s possible he starts the year out in the G-League and develops into a steady contributor over time, but the Celtics believe both European prospects will develop into studs.
Factoring in second-round pick Semi Ojeleye also seems to be a logical choice. Ojeleye, 22, is a very similar player to Yabusele who has a sweet shooting stroke that makes him the perfect developmental stretch-four prospect. Ojeleye is a former Duke transfer that flourished at SMU this past season where he averaged 18.9 points per game along with a .424 percent clip from 3-point range. Ojeleye can probably come in and play some minutes off the bench immediately as a proven college product. Adding those three players gives the Celtics a solid 12-man unit. Abdel Nadar, a 2016 second-round pick and Daniel Theis, a recent acquisition from Germany, could also play into consideration.
3. Who can the Celtics grab with their Mid-Level Exception?
For those who don’t quite understand how the cap works, a team can actually cross the salary cap threshold by using their exceptions. Since Boston is a non-taxpayer, the Celtics have the luxury of being able to use a $8.4 million Mid-Level Exception and a $3.3 Biannual Exception. Who are some players the team could target with that extra commerce?
One logical target could be Rudy Gay. The former Kings wing could be looking for a long-term deal but if he wants to chase a ring, Gay could look at Boston as a place to play. Gay also played for UConn and grew up on the east coast. Gay, 30, suffered an Achilles injury last season and could opt for a one-year deal. He averaged 18.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest over 30 games.
Another could be Tony Allen. The Grizzlies guard is another player who could be squeezed from the roster after Memphis added Ben McLemore. Allen, oddly enough, was originally drafted by the Celtics and could conceivably return home. Allen gives Boston another stifling defender with Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart which could create real problems for their opponents. Allen has always been known as a poor shooter but could work well with a coach like Brad Stevens that is predicated on constant ball movement.
Players like Gerald Green, Anthony Morrow, Brandon Bass, and Vince Carter could be options for a minimum type deal.
2. It’s the Hayward – Stevens show, how high is their ceiling?
Unfinished business. That’s the mantra Gordon Hayward and Brad Stevens left over from their college days. The duo of Hayward and Stevens led Butler to a National Title Game during the 2009-2010 College Basketball season coming up just short to Duke in the finale. Part of the decision for Hayward to sign with Boston was the relationship he built with Brad Stevens. Saying no to the first coach to ever recruit you to college was going to be a tough proposition.
Stevens has elevated every player ever brought his way. Stevens helped Hayward get selected ninth overall in the 2010 NBA Draft from a relatively smaller school. Stevens has even made the 5-foot-9 Isaiah Thomas into an MVP candidate. Thomas averaged 28.9 points per game with Boston compared to 15.2 with Phoenix. The same can be said for Jae Crowder who has turned into a really good player compared to his days in Dallas where he had a tough time getting on the floor. Are the Celtics really that good or is Brad Stevens a once and a lifetime head coach?
Unlike some Celtics, Hayward was able to become a star without Stevens. Jazz coach Quin Synder really deserves credit for working with Hayward as he produced 21.9 points per game this past year. Hayward also converted .471 percent from the field and .398 percent from 3-point range. However, those efficiency numbers will likely improve now that he is surrounded by a much better Celtics roster.
While Rudy Gobert is a great player, he is limited offensively. Hayward’s scoring opportunities with Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Al Horford, and one of the best coaches in the NBA Brad Stevens make life a lot easier. The Celtics won 53 games without Hayward and now likely elevate to a 60-plus win team. Factoring in the woes going on in the Eastern Conference, the C’s have a real shot at the Finals in year one. Given the fact that Stevens already knows Hayward so well, the transition to Boston will likely be effortless.
Boston not only has a chance to make the Finals now, but this could be a ten-year dynasty. Danny Ainge has done an incredible job flushing the Celtics with young talent including Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Brown and Tatum hold the keys to the Celtics future and look like promising young prospects. Let’s not forget the fact that Boston also has 800 first round picks and could flip for another star like Kristaps Porzingis possibly.
1.The Isaiah Thomas conundrum. Is he worth the max?
Isaiah Thomas runs the show in Boston, but for how long? Thomas, 29, will be an impending free agent after this upcoming season. Thomas will earn just $6.26 million in 2017-2018 and will be looking for a max $200 million type of deal in the near future. The problem is Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley will also be on the hook for new deals.
You can make the argument that undersized point guards typically don’t age well. Factoring in the serious hip injury Thomas suffered in the Eastern Conference Finals, it may be a sign of what’s to come in a long-term deal. Paying $200 million to Isaiah Thomas is out of the question. If he becomes adamant on getting a max type deal, trading Thomas may be in the teams best interest.
The darlings of the analytics actually view Marcus Smart in high esteem. Smart, 23, is regarded as a future All-Star level player according to ESPN’s Five Thirty-Eight website. Smart, who is already a premier defender, averaged 10.6 points per game a year ago. Personally, I think Smart can develop into a Kyle Lowry type of player.
Losing Avery Bradley isn’t really an option either. Bradley, who is an All-NBA type of defender, may realistically be the Celitics be player prior to the Hayward signing. Bradley, 26, averaged 14.2 points per game and has a 14.52 PER. Bradley is a reliable 3-point shooter (.390 percent) and fits exactly what Brad Stevens is trying to do.
Next: NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 offseason needs for the Boston Celtics
For the Celtics to hit their true potential, Isaiah Thomas may have to go. Paying Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley should be priorities over Thomas despite how electric he is. For now the Isaiah Thomas, Gordon Hayward show will be fun to watch.