The Celtics won’t be making any blockbuster strikes this offseason after successful an NBA championship in dominant vogue. Nonetheless, league sources inform MassLive that Brad Stevens and the remainder of Boston’s entrance workplace have been busy exploring eventualities forward of the 2024 NBA Draft beginning on Wednesday night time.
Boston holds the No. 30 and No. 54 (through Dallas) general picks getting into the two-night affair, which concludes on Thursday night.
The Celtics talks have centered across the No. 30 choose, the ultimate choose of the night time on Wednesday however Boston has been purchasing that choice in hopes of choosing up extra draft compensation per a supply. Boston’s entrance workplace is making an attempt to string the needle between infusing some younger expertise into the franchise and including extra draft capital to the cabinet so as to add ammo for future strikes. A more in-depth have a look at their motives that would come into play if a deal will get achieved.
RESTOCKING THE DRAFT CUPBOARD
The Celtics made 4 separate trades on draft night time final 12 months in a profitable effort to replenish their draft assets. Boston put a lot of that second-round capital to make use of final season, buying and selling away a pair of second-round picks to the Grizzlies for Xavier Tillman on the commerce deadline. Additionally they traded what ended up being the No. 41 general choose to the 76ers for Jaden Springer again in February.
These strikes have left Boston’s draft cabinet a little bit skinny getting into this offseason. The crew nonetheless has all its personal future first-round picks this decade earlier than 2029 however they personal simply three second-round picks in complete over the subsequent couple of seasons. These kind of picks might be essential for minor in-season trades, significantly for a second apron crew like Boston now that may’t embrace money in any deal.
The Celtics nonetheless have a few engaging second-round picks for 2025 and 2026 that had been acquired final 12 months however not a lot past that. Wednesday night time will likely be one other alternative for Boston to reload on that entrance in the event that they discover an interesting provide for No. 30.
COST SAVINGS FOR POTENTIAL FUTURE SPLURGES
A league supply tells MassLive that signing Sam Hauser and Derrick White to extensions this offseason is a precedence for Boston and that would issue into Boston’s draft plans from a roster building standpoint. A technique of serving to these varieties of offers get achieved whereas nonetheless sustaining a workable payroll is discovering bargains for different elements of the roster.
Drafting second-round picks is a method to assist on that entrance. The cap hits for gamers on the rookie minimal ($1.16 million) is way cheaper than a veteran’s minimal ($2.09 million) or the No. 30 choose ($2.5 million) while you determine within the luxurious tax financial savings. Right here’s an instance for the price financial savings if Boston traded all the way down to a second-round choose that was signed to the 15-man roster.
Financial savings from No. 30 choose to second-round choose signing for the rookie minimal.
- $1.35 million in wage
- $3.25-4.25 million in luxurious tax penalties financial savings
Complete financial savings: $4.6-5.6 million
The cash is assured for these gamers for not less than the primary 12 months or two however at a wholesome share much less of the price the No. thirtieth choose can be making. If the Celtics find yourself agreeing to an extension with Hauser and giving him an enormous bump from his $2 million wage for this season as a part of the deal, saving chunk of cash on any rookie picks may assist significantly on this entrance. Boston labored this example very effectively final 12 months, shifting down from No. 25 to No. 37 general to pick Jordan Walsh, getting a gifted prospect on a budget together with a number of extra picks for his or her strikes.
Boston additionally holds the No. 54 general choose on this draft and that’s a choose that might probably find yourself as a two-way participant if Boston retains that choice.
Will probably be an intriguing stability for Stevens to see how he navigates his choices. Boston at present solely has 4 roster spots open after Oshae Brissett opted out however there’s curiosity in bringing again a number of present free brokers on the proper worth, per league sources.
The Celtics might want to preserve discovering diamonds within the tough like Hauser or Payton Pritchard to maintain their depth over the long run. The search on that entrance begins once more on Wednesday night time.