The Boston Celtics are one of five franchises over the second apron, investing $187.3 million in salary cap allocations, per Spotrac. They’re also not about to shake up what’s widely considered the most talented top six in the NBA. They’re unlikely to part with Payton Pritchard or Sam Hauser, either. So, while Brad Stevens said after Thursday’s practice at the Auerbach Center that he has the “green light” from ownership to add to their payroll, including utilizing the $6.2 million Grant Williams traded player exception (TPE), he also pointed out the restrictions Boston must work within while exploring how it can upgrade its roster.
That means C’s fans will likely have to hold their breath and hope Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford stay healthy throughout Boston’s playoff run. The former has been fantastic since arriving, providing new elements to the offense, punishing switches, and giving teammates a seven-foot-three knockdown shooter as a kick-out option when they drive downhill. His offensive impact also includes helping Jaylen Brown grow as a facilitator. Defensively, his willingness to embrace different pick-and-roll coverages, get out of his comfort zone, and take on new challenges, performing at a high level while doing so, has been as significant as it is
The former All-Star is averaging 20.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and nearly one steal per contest. However, Porzingis, who has a history of lower-body injuries, including a left ACL tear in 2018, has also dealt with a left calf strain that’s caused him to miss nine of Boston’s first 33 games. It’s an injury he and the team are still managing. Horford remains a steady presence. He’s producing 7.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and drilling 37.7 percent of the 3.8 threes he’s hoisting per game, having a positive effect that goes beyond traditional box score numbers while seamlessly transitioning to a role where he’s coming off the bench, barring an absence in the starting lineup. Furthermore, the team’s elder statesman expressed after practice on Thursday that his body feels good and he’s “taking care of myself (and) I’m doing the things that I need to do.”
However, the fact that he’s 37 and in his 17th NBA season is not something he or the team take lightly. But given Boston’s restrictions, acquiring a rotation-caliber center to upgrade its insurance policy in case Porzingis or Horford misses significant time in the playoffs is unlikely. “We’ve got really good players,” Stevens conveyed to Inside The Celtics. “I think what we’re looking for and what we most likely, especially with where we are from a tools standpoint, there’s really not a ton we can do big without touching our main guys, right? And so, what you look at is guys that can play, guys that can add value. But like I said last year, (that) don’t need to play. They are over themselves. And I think that that’s important. That’s what we have right now.
And we’ve gotten obviously good play out of, great play out of Kristaps, I think Al’s been good. I think Luke (Kornet) and Neemy (Neemias Queta), when called upon, (they) have both added great value.” Kornet recently strung together two of his best performances with Boston, including stuffing the stat sheet with a season-high 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and three blocks in a 120-118 victory vs. the Toronto Raptors. Queta has impressed teammates, including Horford, with how quickly he learns and applies what’s asked of him. He’s also seven feet tall, a lob threat, a rim protector, and an excellent screener.
While the Celtics would hate to lose one of their top-two centers, Kornet and Queta are options as good as any Boston could realistically acquire if it has to try to fill that void. But what Stevens would like to see is “how we can find another big wing or so that can help us. And I think that could be from within, and I also think that we’ll continue to monitor free agency and trades.” Internal candidates include Oshae Brissett and Lamar Stevens, while Cedi Osman of the San Antonio Spurs is a potential external target. However, the latter’s on an expiring $6.7 million contract, meaning he would not fit into the Grant Williams TPE, complicating the ability to bring him to Boston.
