Loads of ink is being spilled on whether the Boston Celtics are drawn to (or should always be) procuring and selling for Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes, but it is also price pivoting to deal for one other pair of Kings gamers who ought to be on hand to alternate.
While we predict in the fit for Barnes shifting forward with the Celtics — and fancy his contract ending ultimate as Boston may perchance well should always judge a serious roster shake up — the doable affect of Barnes’ recent earnings may perchance well also create some serious tax factors barring some artful maneuvering with the comfort of the roster.
A pivot to susceptible wide man Nemanja Bjelica and former No. 2 total draft mediate Marvin Bagley III is also an appealing alternate path with the identical workforce — let’s take a watch at how.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) March 11, 2021
Bjelica is no longer precisely having a occupation twelve months, however the news of his displeasure in his role this season is no longer precisely a secret and may perchance be a serious component.
The 6-foot-10 forward is a occupation 39% sharpshooter from deep, and used to be hitting an absurd 57.1% from 3 before sitting out famous of the month of January into February in voice over reportedly shedding his starting up role to Bagley, per The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Jason Jones.
And while there’d be possibility on duplicating that war by bringing both along to Boston, shifting their doable roles (and winning) may perchance well make these concerns moot (more on this later).
The Serbian vet is extra special in transition — score in Synergy’s 98th percentile — while additionally excellent posting up and appropriate producing offense off of cuts, all wrinkles the Celtics may perchance well also spend.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) March 11, 2021
And while famous of the hand-wringing referring to Bagley has been centered on his father’s feedback, which, while no longer disavowed by the son, were by no way going to be given it used to be his family.
Is asking for a alternate from what has historically been one amongst the worst-shuffle organizations within the league currently that controversial of a narrate for a former prime mediate anyway?
Assuming the organizational integrity of the Celtics and improved publicity and replacement Boston would offer, we are in a position to assert our time focusing on the diversified aspects that matter — particularly the contract, doable and his manufacturing.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) March 11, 2021
Regarding his ceiling, it’s ultimate to direct that no longer being Luka Doncic is a sturdy shadow to to find out of.
On the other hand it desires to be saved in thoughts he’s additionally a third-twelve months participant who has managed to enhance his shot profile and percentage significantly this season no matter being in a much less-than-optimal sigh.
Taking pictures a occupation high 37% from deep on 2.7 attempts per recreation and a solid 54% from within the midst of the arc, Bagley looks love a doable appropriate-stats-horrid-workforce guy making too famous cash at $8.9 million this season, $11.3 million the next and a qualifying offer of $14 million the season after.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) March 11, 2021
But a more in-depth watch unearths a participant who is solid in both the halfcourt and transition, and while no longer particularly wide offensively he can switch succor and forth between the four and the 5 on offense interchangeably in ways about a of the Celtics frontcourt absorb struggled with.
And while both his and Bjelica’s defense is melancholy, both can coexist with bigs love Robert Williams III and Daniel Theis, and in lineups that may perchance well make up for their shortcomings in diversified ways.
Most attention-grabbing of all, a deal sending succor Tristan Thompson, one amongst Semi Ojeleye, Carsen Edwards or Javonte Green and a pair of second rounders is also sufficient to seal the deal while most productive eating up a little bit of over $5 million of the wide TPE, and holding Boston effectively under the luxurious tax.
If Boston waits to make spend of its TPE, it may perchance well should always call about Houston’s Christian Wood https://t.co/FTLRHY7qRR
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) March 11, 2021
The Athletic’s Sam Amick notes that the Kings provides “were ultimate nothing to write home about the least bit” in a recent podcast with HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
It’s additionally no longer mandatory to pursue both together — every make more sense on Boston’s roster than Thompson does at recent. To his credit score, he’s peaceable priceless sufficient as to make a contribution on a winning roster — but most teams within the league already absorb their solution in that regard this unhurried within the season.
And while the former Cav may perchance well peaceable yet change into the form of participant Boston had hoped he’d be, Thompson has precious miniature time left to inform it.
Celtics increasingly tied to Kings’ Barnes, per SI’s Mannix, Athletic’s Amick https://t.co/SyOD6wNHtm
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) March 11, 2021
Whichever path Boston takes at the time limit — if it bothers procuring and selling the least bit — it may perchance well make sense to evaluate these diversified two Kings forwards as an replacement of Barnes if the associated rate is suitable.
It’s a sound quiz as as to whether the Celtics’ doable alternate partner would should always transfer Bagley at such a low return.
But when the workforce has cause to advise the former lottery mediate has no design of remaining with the workforce, it may perchance well make sense to lower bait.
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Could Kings’ Bagley, Bjelica make more sense for Celtics targets than Barnes?
