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According to Spotrac, the Boston Celtics are one of five teams who have invested $187.3 million in salary cap allocations over the second season.
They also won’t be upending what is regarded as the NBA’s most skilled top six. Nor are they likely to part with Sam Hauser or Payton Pritchard.
Brad Stevens stated following Thursday’s practice at the Auerbach Center that he has the “green light” from ownership to increase their payroll, including by using the $6.2 million traded player exception (TPE) for Grant Williams, but he also highlighted the constraints Boston must adhere to while considering how it can improve its roster.
This implies that during Boston’s postseason run, supporters of the Clippers will probably have to hold their breath and pray Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford stay healthy.Ever since his arrival, the former has been outstanding. He has added fresh components to the offense, punished switches, and given teammates a seven-foot-three knockdown shooter to use as a kickout option when they are driving downhill. He also has an offensive impact by developing Jaylen Brown’s facilitation skills.On defense, he has been noteworthy and admirable for his willingness to accept various pick-and-roll coverages, step outside of his comfort zone, and take on new challenges—all while playing at a high level.
In each game, the former All-Star averages 20.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and almost one steal. But Porzingis, who has a history of ailments to his lower body—he tore his left ACL in 2018—has also struggled with a left calf strain, which has kept him out of nine of Boston’s first thirty-three games. He is still recovering from the injury, as is the team.
Horford is still a constant. In addition to his impressive stats of 7.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and 37.7 percent of his 3.8 three-pointers made per game, he’s also converting well into a role that sees him come off the bench, barring an injury that prevents him from starting.
After practice on Thursday, the team’s veteran player also mentioned that he feels fine physically and is “taking care of myself (and) I’m doing the things that I need to do.”himself is in his 17th NBA season and is 37 years old, but neither the team nor himself takes that fact lightly.
But, it seems unlikely that Boston will be able to strengthen its insurance policy in the unlikely event that Porzingis or Horford miss a considerable amount of time during the playoffs by acquiring a center of rotation caliber.
“We have excellent players,” Stevens told Inside The Celtics. “I believe that there isn’t much we can do significant without affecting our key players, given what we’re searching for and where we most likely are in terms of tools. Thus, you see players who are capable of making an impact. But (that) don’t have to play, as I stated last year. They have moved past themselves. And that, in my opinion, is crucial. That’s our current situation.
“And Kristaps has clearly played well for us; Al has also played well, in my opinion. When called upon, I believe both Luke (Kornet) and Neemy (Neemias Queta) have greatly contributed.”
Horford has been pleased by Queta’s ability to pick things up quickly and put them into practice. In addition, he is seven feet tall and is a formidable lob threat, rim protector, and screener.Although losing one of their top two centers would hurt the Celtics, Kornet and Queta are as good of candidates as Boston could possibly try to get if it needs to replace that hole.Stevens, meanwhile, is interested in “how we can find another big wing or something that can help us.” And we’ll keep an eye on trades and free agency going forward, in addition to the possibility that it comes fromOshae Brissett and Lamar Stevens are inside candidates, and Cedi Osman of the San Antonio Spurs is a possible external target. It would be more difficult to get the latter to Boston because he is on a $6.7 million contract that is about to expire and does not fit within the Grant Williams TPE. inside.”
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